FACES Issue No. 118 by FACES OMAN

Issue 118, November 2016

Explore the

Great Outdoors

Get Inspiredâ&#x20AC;¦ By Nature

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Issue 118, November 2016 Issue 118, November 2016

Family Attitude Class Entertainment Success

Editor’s Note

Explore the Great Outdoors Get Inspired… By Nature

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W Founder / Essa Bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman & Editor-in-Chief / Mohammed Issa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer / Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Business Director / Sophia Raman Editorial Consultant / Suzy Fontes Art Director / Pushpender K. Sharma Head of Advertising & Marketing / Aziz K. Baker

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RY cover STO

ith winter dousing the weekend with all things outdoors, it is time to windup your leisure clocks to chime to the notes of nature. The big and wondrous outdoors is beckoning whether you have the streak of adventure in you or not. So, press the pause button on work and the monotonous work-homework routine to smell the fresh air and get intimate with nature.

at The Goroers td u O

charm in its outdoor may have pronounced winter Summer a ns all the that have ter that ear countries it’s the win t of the world – par season, but ks in this sea, an outdoor per trek, a swim in the fishing e ual be it a cas desert safari, a gam s adventurou gardening n ficit trip or eve Nature-De

phrase ibe the coined the to descr rd Louv Woods’, r. He author Richa ‘Last Child in the much time indoo ficit n 2005, too e-De in his book of spending clarified that Natur iption Disorder descr al condition der, but rather, a all too norm iency to a disor diagnosis, . medical the defic natural world t to be a pegged nsus from the is not mean found conse no Disorder n costs of alienation have not certainly iency may of the huma there is sic the defic health, but which has intrin aspect of al rder’ ment field of The ‘diso outdoors, a general rts in the the great for attention and with expe rtance of er faculty the impo disputing s, including sharp the r opens health value r. as winte the here, facto For er fun. feel good big decid d under good r is the are tagge elusive feel and good facto or activities that ingly feel seem The ation box of outdo of rekindling the n to induce relax said treasure g is know ation is also or has a way great outdo air in a natural settinstent outdoor recre ors is physical dless factor. Fresh and anxiety; consi trigger for the outdo ingly boun the stress seem her e ’s s. . Whet reduc Oman self-esteem eing, a tryst with pleasant winter clime of to boost perspective mental wellb table during the fitness or inevi a panoramic ed during the present options is pursu outdoor pages we ties that are best us… ing with or activi In the follow outdoors tested outdo explore Oman’s tried and hs. Go on; coming mont

We have taken a shot at outdoor activities to get you out of your home and into the lap of nature. A compilation of activities, ranging from trekking and fishing to camping and gardening, are packed in this issue to inspire you this season. While some activities require experience and a level of fitness, there is no stopping you from simply taking a walk on the beach or the garden to up it p am C relish the season’s bounty.

Operations / M.V.V. Sagar

Published By / Muscat Media Group

as translates camping s fun and the chosen oor spell minator is When outd the obvious deno g, pamperin and nd. r exclusive campgrou of the supe world; the l of some nd the want to Have an eyefu grounds arou to folks who ation, camp cater nsive to expe ned and relax are desig t with rest ts one’s that ge apartmen outdoor ques plug in their are bigger than averathat are on par in tents that ped with amenities and are prim hotels star with five

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es oo jungl lush bamb en Camp Gold ern Tented uber In North Seasons e for its earned reput that include is the Four which has or activities Triangle, jungles well as outdogh the bamboo ed luxury as treks throu s. The trek is follow g elephant passe ed in Chian mountain Locat the ern, age. and inute mass Burma and West hot ern by a 90-m decks, to South re huge Rai, close outdoor tents featu ubs and Laos, the mised batht custo tubs, ) showers. (per night Price: $2467

And as November gives way to December to hit the countdown gong, reflect on the year gone by and make your New Year’s resolution, even if you don’t intend to keep it (just to test what’s on your mind). It is indeed the season to be merry and joyful; season to give thanks and count your blessings.

ngle Golden Tria Thailand’s

is 131° Longitude Longitude 131°some a whole Australia’s to be for Overlooking e. the camp most experienc Uluru, the alian sensorial is d Monte The Clayo r Island, the sacre ents of the Austr 15 er Vancouve te chart resort in iconic elem camp, featuring e a via a priva g to the the accessible ned to creat e outback, ride, addin ned to desig is boat , a natur plane or site. Desig luxury tents ony between the ge the camp floor-toand vinta t allure of perfect harm luxuries. The modern resor lodge n reflect both the décor, the and huma ows in the main e’s in views, elements st the natur ceiling wind of the best day idual ged amid ts and peaks. is arran present some canopy of indiv of pine fores liberty to lofty grandeur night sky. while the have the nture up to the Occupants own outdoor adve tents open (per night) g, : $2400 create their is scuba diving, fishin g Price it simply gettin - whether riding or requisite the horseback also age and options a mass and . Activity pampering classes, kayaking, s. other include yoga g a host of s, amon archery g expedition and fishin ts can plunge Hiking ts can gues on the where gues wilderness, are the deep into larity list. popu the ) top of (per night 8th Price: $3900

131° Longitude

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Contact Email - Editorial editor@facesoman.com

Resort

Have a glorious December!

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Telephone +968 24498722

Wilderness

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Novembe

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Copyright 2016 FACES / All material published remains the copyright of FACES. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. FACES cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material.

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FACES Features 14 Cover Story

Summer may have its outdoor charm in countries that have a pronounced winter season, but it’s winter that earns all the outdoor perks in this part of the world

22 In Conversation

Vocalist, voice over/recording artist, choral director and music educator Lisa Morgan’s project, ‘Oman is home to me’, is a paean to the nation

24 Centre Stage

Oman’s home-grown ‘influencers’ are ruling the social media with their daily doses of suggestions and ideas on a variety of topics

26 In The Spotlight -

Not Alone Oman, the first of its kind mental health awareness initiative from Whispers of Serenity Clinic, will go on a journey around the Sultanate Around a hundred marathoners from twenty countries took part in the 4th NBO Oman Desert Marathon, which comprised six stages

28 Feast On

Savour the authentic taste of eastern Mediterranean cuisine at Kosebasi, the Turkish Artisan grill

FACES Health 32 Health Check

Food has a big say on your health and an even bigger say in treating, rather stemming certain diseases like diabetes

FACES Travel

38 Explore Oman -

Leading travel guide, Lonely Planet, has ranked Oman 8th among the top countries in the world to visit in 2017 Oman has opened campgrounds for Recreational Vehicles (RV) in key tourist areas

40 Just Travel

Rough it out in the big beautiful world of outdoors, with nature for company

FACES Style 36 In The Luxe

Have an eyeful of some of the super exclusive and expensive campgrounds that are designed to cater to folks who want to plug in their outdoor quest with rest and relaxation

42 Look Good

Glamping, camping or simply roughing it out, your skin deserves an extra dose of tender loving care when outdoors

44 Style File -

You can look and feel fashionable even in your casual outdoor-wear As November leads to the big December party season, take stock of your wardrobe and find ways that will make you stand out

FACES Elements 54 At Home

Take the stress out of unpacking and arranging things in your new home with a few tried and tested cleaning tips

56 Relatively Speaking Before the countdown to the New Year reaches a crescendo, get your family together to create traditions that can uphold the bonds and establish that fairytale ‘foreverness’

58 Man Date

Find out how to bulk up and build muscles without acquiring a fat belly in the bargain

FACES SPECIAL 48 Outdoors Special

Take a cue from the Special pages and set out on an exploration/camping trip in the nature-soaked landscapes of Oman

FACES Razzmatazz 10 Star Light

As the quirky Dr. Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons rules the roost, earning the tag of the world’s highest paid TV actor

12 Razzle Dazzle Latest celebrity gossip from the world of Hollywood

13 Tittle Tattle

Heard through the grapevine...

FACES Digest

64 Movies & Books

Reviews of upcoming movies and books

66 Gadget Notes

Roundup of new gadgets in the market

GET HOME SAFE

HANDS ON THE WHEEL EYES ON THE ROAD Safe MIND ON DRIVING

Winter Concert at TAISM Mark December 10th on your calendars. Muscat Singers and Muscat Brass are all set to present their Winter Concert programme. Under the current Musical Director, Andrew Elbin and accompanied by pianist David Possnett, a varied programme of contemporary and well-known songs under the theme, Winter Sounds, will be presented at The Bosch Centre for Performing Arts at The American International School Muscat, Gala, on 10th December at 6pm. Muscat Brass, comprising an ensemble of 20 brass players, will present some seasonal numbers; some will be unaccompanied choir, or ‘A capella voices’. Muscat Brass will also present a medley of their favourites, conducted and arranged by the inimitable Darrol Barry.

Avenues Children’s Garden A novel food waste reuse initiative by Oman Avenues Mall is set to accentuate its green credentials at the newly opened Avenues Children’s Garden. It is an environment-friendly venture of converting food waste into a value-added resource; nutrient-rich compost produced from the Mall’s organic waste is the secret behind the success of the garden on the spacious outdoor balcony area on the second floor. The Garden complements the equally charming Muscat Garden Center Nursery, where stunning arrays of herbaceous perennials also thrive on the home grown compost. The twin facilities were formally inaugurated by H.H. Sayyida Dr Mona bint Fahd bin Mahmood Al Said, Assistant VC for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University. Underpinning the Garden initiative is a strongly environmental and educational theme targeted at school children.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ opens its 12th outlet in Muscat City Centre Muscat is the newest destination for patrons of Malabar Gold & Diamonds. The popular jewellery store opened its 157th outlet globally in Muscat (12th in Oman), at City Centre Muscat. The new showroom will display the exclusive 21K gold jewellery collections of the brand L’azurde. The showroom, which is participating in the ‘Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival – MGDF’ campaign will give customers a chance to win big. Customers get a scratch and win coupon on purchase of gold and diamond jewellery worth RO250 to win a guaranteed gold coin or up to 100 gold coins instantly. Customers also get a scratch and win coupon on purchase of diamond jewellery for a guaranteed cash refund and have a chance to get their cash back up to 100 percent of their purchase. Customers can avail the zero deduction offer on 22K (GCC) old gold jewellery exchange and can buy 8gms gold coins without paying making charges. These offers are valid until 15th January 2017.

Al Baleed Resort Salalah The first luxury pool villa resort in Southern Oman, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, opened its doors in the southern province of Dhofar on the Arabian Sea. Situated between a long, scenic beach and freshwater lagoon, bordering the historic Al Baleed UNESCO archaeological site, the resort introduces a new level of luxury and refinement to the region. The resort comprises 136 guest rooms and villas offering views of the ocean, lagoon or picturesque gardens. The 40 premier and deluxe rooms offer luxurious handcrafted furnishings, while the eight one-bedroom villas and 88 one- and two-bedroom pool villas offer a host of services and separate living areas.

November 2016

ROHM to host Chinese Artist Lou Zhenggang

‘New Cheesy Twist’ from Pizza Hut It’s a pizza with a ‘twist’. The ‘New Cheesy Twist’ is a scrumptious

Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) is all set to host the first Middle East solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed Lou Zhenggang, one of China’s most distinguished and acclaimed artists. Held from 6th to 17th December at the ROHM, under the auspices of H.H. Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, Zhenggang’s debut exhibition in the Middle East will feature some of her finest works, including seven extraordinary folded silk screen pieces, an innovative experimentation with traditional compositional form and motion titled, ‘Wan Xiang – Harmony & Nature’. Zhenggang is acclaimed internationally for paintings and calligraphic works that innovatively depict the spirit of contemporary China.

offer from Pizza Hut in three distinct flavours. Diners do not have to compromise on their favourite toppings; the Cheesy Twist has the golden crust edge doubly twisted over and packed with tempting melted mozzarella. Based on the customer’s preference the base crust is topped with Fiery Peri Peri, Cool Ranch or a tomato base in the case of Bold BBQ. The pizzas are generously drizzled with the sauce of choice to reinforce the taste and the edges are dusted with Parmesan cheese to pack in more flavour. The New Cheesy Twist Pizza comes in medium and large size and is also available on delivery and takeaway orders. Pizza Hut offers an incredible range of food options, from pizzas and pastas to starters, salads, lasagna, mocktails, desserts and more. The menu has something for everyone.

‘Bridge of Surprises’ at City Centre Qurum Calling all gaming enthusiasts. City Centre Qurum (CCQ) has created mind-blowing, hair-rising great moments for visitors by offering the latest in virtual reality gaming with the ‘Bridge of Surprises’ game, until Dec 10, 2016. Visitors who spend RO10 in participating outlets will be able to enter a simulated world where they will cross a rope-bridge stretched between two balloons flying over the country. In reality, participants will be walking across an actual makeshift rope-bridge in the mall. CCQ will also be giving away RO500 gift vouchers, every week, until Dec 28. Visitors spending RO20 in the mall can present their receipt at the customer service desk to get a chance to participate in the weekly draw.

Oud Milano opens at MGM Muscat Grand Mall is now home to the popular Italian Cosmetics Brand, Oud Milano. The newly opened store is located on the mezzanine floor of the Mall; it offers customers a wide yet unique range of luxurious cosmetic products. Oud Milano is a brand devoted to the discovery and importing of the secrets of oriental beauty art – whether it is the vivid spice market colours of Indian pigments, the latest super-lush eyelashes from Dubai, calligraphy inspired Japanese brushes, new botanicals from Korean laboratories, luxurious fragrances from Arabian oils, or skin healing elixirs from the Levant. It features a collection of international cosmetics including hair dyes, eye lashes, eastern perfumes, and skin care creams, all under one roof.

November 2016

ans of the popular television series, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ know why Jim commands such a top rating. He topped the Forbes’ 2016 list of television’s highest-paid actors second time in a row with a $25.5 million take earned between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016. He is closely followed by other stars of the series, with Johnny Galecki earning the number two slot with $24 million; Simon Helberg with $22.5 million; and Kunal Nayyar with $22 million. Capitalising on the popularity of the series, CBS network is now developing a spinoff, with co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady overseeing the project. According to sources in the television industry, only Parsons will be involved in the prequel series, which is said to be a single-camera comedy, unlike The Big Bang Theory. “The Big Bang Theory has completely changed my life,” Parsons is quoted to have said, and it is obvious why. 43-year old James Joseph ‘Jim’ Parsons, born in Houston, Texas, found fame with the CBS sitcom as

Jim Parsons’ on a Big Bang roll As the quirky Dr. Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons rules the roost, earning the tag of the world’s highest paid TV actor for two consecutive years Sheldon Cooper. But it was during his junior year, that a role in a play ‘Noises Off’ made him realise his calling. He recalls that role as the one that helped him connect with who he was playing on stage and truly understand what it meant to be honest on stage. During his undergraduate years at the University of Houston he appeared in 17 different plays and regularly appeared at the Stages Repertory Theatre. He later enrolled in graduate school at the University of San Diego and was one of seven students accepted into a special two-year course in classical theater. He moved to New York following his graduation and worked in Off-Broadway productions and was seen in several television shows. He auditioned for around 30 television pilots before the breakthrough role in The Big Bang Theory came about. His audition for the role of Sheldon Cooper was so impressive, that the series creators got him to replicate it again, just to see if he had the potential to repeat the performance. He was cast as Sheldon Cooper, a physicist with social apathy, who is required to ‘rattle off line after line of tightly composed, rhythmic dialogue, as well as then do something with his face or body during the silence that follows.’ Recalling his audition, Parsons confesses that he did not feel any sort of relationship with the character of Sheldon Cooper, but was enchanted by the dialogue structure and the way the writers used words to create a kind of rhythm. “The rhythm got me. It was the chance to dance through that dialogue, and in a lot of ways still is,” he’d said. His sense of comic and his spot on acting has received rave reviews from critics and experts in the entertainment industry. In 2009, Parsons won the Television Critics Association award for individual achievement in comedy. He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for six consecutive years, from 2009to 2014; he won it in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. In January 2011, he won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy.

November 2016

Parsons has also made his presence in films – he appeared in the comedy film The Big Year in 2011 and was also seen as the human alter ego of Walter in The Muppets the same year. In 2015 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

A tribute to Steve Irwin ‘His Legacy will Live on Forever’, the annual gala in honour of the late Steve Irwin, earlier this month, was attended by Bindi Irwin and her boyfriend Chandler Powell, along with her mother Terri and her little brother Robert Irwin. She attended the 10th annual Steve Irwin Gala dinner where her dad’s passion for animals was felt by many. She also took over the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Instagram page to give fans an inside look into an event that remains so important for the family. “Tonight we will be raising funds for all of the animals that come through our doors at the Wildlife Hospital for life saving treatment,” Bindi explained to her followers.

Adele ‘off to have a baby’?

Kim supports Kanye during his breakdown

Kim Kardashian stood by her husband Kanye West during his recent breakdown, despite rumours that it was fuelled by marital problems. Kim is said to have rushed to Kanye’s side the moment she heard about the problem and herded him to the hospital. She was set to make her first public appearance since being robbed at gunpoint in her Paris apartment. But she ditched the event to be by her husband’s side.

Adele, who four months ago told her fans that she wasn’t planning on adding to her brood, has been throwing hints and making open statements about having her second baby. Last month she said she wouldn’t get pregnant until the end of her tour, and joked earlier this month that she was ‘off to have a baby’. She also plans to take a break from music…

Tilda Swinton doesn’t like ‘Harry Potter’… Yes, Tilda Swinton is not a fan of the ‘Harry Potter’ series and this is her explanation for the dislike. “I think they are a very cruel setting in which to grow up and I don’t feel children benefit from that type of education. Children need their parents. That’s why I dislike films like ‘Harry Potter’, which tend to romanticize such places,” she told an entertainment magazine. Swinton attended a boarding school as a child and, apparently, did not have a good experience there.

Chris Pratt and Anna Faris sued for animal neglect Reports that the actors Chris Pratt and Anna Faris have been allegedly neglecting and abandoning their pet Chihuahua have been making the Hollywood rounds. The problems, apparently, started when Faris adopted the dog named Pete about four years ago. Faris had signed an agreement with rescue shelter operator Laurel Kinder that she would pay a fine of $5,000 if she ever gave the dog to a different owner. The dog was recently found wandering the streets of North Hollywood and was reportedly badly emaciated.

November 2016

Tittle

“I feel I’m in a good place in my life and I want to make sure my kids are healthy, they are happy and things are going to go well. Those are my hopes for me and for all of us.” - Naomi Watts opened up for the first time on breaking up with longtime partner Liev Schrieber to state that she is in a ‘good place’

“My lifelong passion has been to tell women’s stories with authenticity and humor. This partnership will allow me to reach a greater audience that is eager for more female-driven content.” - Reese Witherspoon announces on Instagram that her new company, ‘Hello Sunshine’, will allow her to create content focused on women’s stories

“I’m not speaking for anybody, but knowing him and his incredible background, I know how it feels to be uncomfortable and scared. There are definitely moments where [fans] cross over the boundary of it becoming almost scary.” - Rita Ora defends Justin Bieber’s recent actions over punching a fan when he got too close, in an interview with Metro

“I just brought in the 11th grandchild… Ten kids now and 11 grandchildren. I am pulling for 30 grandchildren, I’m a third of the way there. I have been very blessed with great kids… The good part is, after all I have been through, they still love me.” - Caitlyn Jenner gushed about her new granddaughter Dream Kardashian, in an interview with ‘Extra’

“I’m horrible at discipline when it comes to working out. I’m one of those people who’s like, ‘Ah, I ran for five minutes. I think I’m good’. I have a sweat bed, which looks like a burrito that I wrap myself up in, and I sweat for about 45 minutes. Just little things to kind of keep me healthy and keep me focused.” - Selena Gomez reveals her unusual workout routine November 2016

cover STORY

The Great Outdoors Summer may have its outdoor charm in countries that have a pronounced winter season, but it’s the winter that earns all the outdoor perks in this part of the world – be it a casual trek, a swim in the sea, an adventurous desert safari, a game fishing trip or even gardening

n 2005, author Richard Louv coined the phrase Nature-Deficit Disorder in his book ‘Last Child in the Woods’, to describe the all too normal condition of spending too much time indoor. He pegged the deficiency to a disorder, but clarified that Nature-Deficit Disorder is not meant to be a medical diagnosis, rather, a description of the human costs of alienation from the natural world. The ‘disorder’ aspect of the deficiency may not have found consensus with experts in the field of mental health, but there is certainly no disputing the importance of the great outdoors, which has intrinsic health values, including sharper faculty for attention and a general feel good factor. The feel good factor is the big decider here, as winter opens the treasure box of outdoor activities that are tagged under fun. For the great outdoor has a way of rekindling the seemingly elusive feel good factor. Fresh air in a natural setting is known to induce relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety; consistent outdoor recreation is also said to boost self-esteem. Whether the trigger for the outdoors is physical fitness or mental wellbeing, a tryst with Oman’s seemingly boundless outdoor options is inevitable during the pleasant winter climes. In the following pages we present a panoramic perspective of tried and tested outdoor activities that are best pursued during the coming months. Go on; explore Oman’s outdoors with us…

November 2016

he shimmering golden sands of Oman’s visually compelling desertscape is best experienced during the cool winter months, when the weather joins hands with nature to beckon even fastidious folks to check out the treasures of the desert. An inspiring communion with nature is guaranteed, even if one is simply pitching tent in the open plains or lodging at one of the camps in the Sharqiya Sands. But if adventure is the spur, a desert safari could be just what the weather calls for. As Rebecca Mayston, Manager of The Guide Oman notes, it is their self-drive Desert Safari that gives participants a unique opportunity to enjoy the true adventure of being in the dunes. She attributes the adventure factor to the thrill of learning desert driving with the comfort of an experienced crew.

cover STORY

Desert Safari

Listing desert safari as a perfect outdoor activity this season, she says, “During summer, the temperatures are too hot, which is why we run our events from September to April. Winter has cool crisp evenings and lovely daytime temperatures, allowing people to enjoy the dunes.” She advises those with adventure in their veins to go on a self-drive desert safari, for that ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. The other option, as she notes, is to go on a private tour to a camp. Guide Oman’s Desert Safari provides all the essentials of the trip, (including the option to rent a suitable 4x4) with a highly skilled support crew of medics, mechanics, marshals and catering, as well as the essential training in requisite desert skills at the destination. While there is no denying that Sharqiya Sands can also be experienced by undertaking a private trip, to be able to self-drive is a unique, must-try experience. However, it is important to follow certain guidelines, maintains Rebecca. “If you are not joining a formal trip, you should ensure that you are with people who have the skills and necessary equipment for safety and recovery. Never go alone,” is her firm advice. Also, pointing out the importance of maintaining the pristine environment of the desert, she adds. “Always tidy up after yourself; take all the garbage, leave only foot prints. Help us keep Sharqiyah as beautiful as it is today.” (www.theguideoman.com)

November 2016

cover STORY

Game Fishing W

inter is a great equaliser. It has its own ways of making things pleasant for all outdoor activities, including fishing, in this part of the world. Although there is no ideal season for game fishing, as Adrian Hollis notes, some times of the year are better for fishing than others.

“In addition to those, there are a number of tuna species that can be caught here throughout the year. Yellow-fin Tuna is, of course, the one we are most likely to catch. They can grow to an enormous size and will test the tackle and boat handling skills of anyone who is lucky enough to hook into one.

A renowned game-fisherman and GCC based investment professional, Adrian, who likes to spend his weekends chasing fish in Oman, has found that there are more fish caught by gamefishermen during the winter than at other times. This, as he observes, may be due to the fact that it is simply more pleasant to be out when it is cooler.

“These fish dive deep when hooked, so make sure you have enough strong line. If you are lucky enough to catch a big one, you will be in for a long battle to get it on the boat. Over the years, I have been privileged to watch many local fishermen catch these with what is the most basic equipment. And they do it well.

Explaining about game fishing in Oman, he says: “The game fish we have here in the Sultanate are mainly migratory, which are affected by the seasons and water temperatures. When the weather (and therefore water) is hotter, there will, most likely, be more Dorado around. These are a mainstay for the boat-born game fisherman. “Sailfish are another traveller through Omani waters; they also like the warmer weather. Should a game fisherman manage to catch one of these magnificent creatures, he will surely have had a day to remember.

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“Word of warning... Unless you are very lucky, you could spend many hours and gallons of fuel chasing Yellow fin; but if you get a big one, it will be worth it for sure!” Lots of other fish abound, but from a game-fishing point of view they are not generally considered, he points out. Delving further into the subject, he says, “Kawakawa, a variety of tuna, offer great sporting opportunity in the winter. They are smaller tuna but can be caught by trolling the right lure fast (8 – 12 knots). It is a matter of finding them. Once found it is an easy matter of staying in the area and keep catching. “The long-tail Tuna, described as the most sporting fish, can often be found in large schools feeding on sardine and flying fish. They don’t

dive as deep as Yellow-fin, but offer a very sporting challenge not only to hook but also to get into the boat. An excellent target for the fly-fisher… There are numerous other fish that may be caught - Barracuda and Giant Trevally is a couple that the lucky angler may hook into. These fish are difficult to target in the Muscat area, but if caught can certainly make the day.” Listing out the best places to go game fishing, he notes that although game fish are generally caught near the surface they prefer to at least be in water that is deep. “Muscat area offers better opportunities, as it has fairly deep water, not far offshore, which gives the game-fisher a greater chance of Tuna, Sailfish and Marlin - yes, they are sometimes here too! Once one gets further, West of Fahal Island, the water is not so deep (in game fishing terms). However, all the way down to Salalah there are great opportunities,” he states. Talking about the ease or otherwise of indulging in this sport, Adrian says “You can learn by the school of hard knocks and discover it all yourself, which can be fun, frustrating and take years, but can also lead to early disappointment. Why not take a shortcut? There are a number of excellent Omani run charter boats who will willingly take you out. They have all the gear and will put you on the fish. You never know you might just get hooked!”

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For interested adventure seekers, Adrian has the following advice: l The sea can be a dangerous place; it does not forgive fools and commands respect. l Check the weather. l Have correct safety equipment on your boat - expect a full safety briefing before setting out, whether with friends or a charter boat (if you don’t get one, don’t go). l Remember to keep hydrated. When the boat is moving it is easy to forget how warm it can be - even in the winter. A wide brimmed hat and sun block will help. l Be aware of the moon cycle and tides, as they have a massive influence on feeding patterns. l Don’t kill fish just for a photo. If you are not going to eat it, release it alive or give it to a local fisherman who has not had as much success as you. l Don’t get disheartened if you don’t catch anything. It doesn’t matter. l Do enjoy the day. It’s called ‘fishing’ not ‘catching’ for a reason.

(Pictures courtesy of Phil Batty)

Winter Treks I

f there is one activity that resonates intimacy with nature, it would be trekking in the early hours of morning, with the horizon turning crimson at the break of dawn. The heavy winter air and the dreamy mist adding to the setting; flavouring even a casual trek with nature motifs. For regular trekkers, it’s the familiarity established with nature that eggs them on – come summer or winter. But winter has its own charms, says Arun D’Souza, the brain behind the popular Adventure Oman (AO)* group, which

has taken trekking to a whole new level with dedicated weekend treks. “Between September and April is the best time for any outdoor activity in Oman – be it trekking, hiking, off-roading, desert crossing, rock climbing, bouldering, mountain biking, lure fishing, snorkelling, diving and even photography,” states Arun, who has dabbled in most of the popular outdoor activities. The best trekking time is early morning or evening, he maintains, pointing out

that AO treks usually begin around 5.30am during summer. But with the onset of winter, trekking enthusiasts could even start at 8am and also opt for full day treks that could go on till late afternoon - “However, too late in the evening is also not advisable owing to the light,” he hastens to add. He suggests first-timers to get inducted into this highly addictive outdoor activity with the Muttrah Geo Trek, which is the nearest marked trail in Muscat. There are, of course, several unmarked wild trails on

November 2016

cover STORY Hamriya hills, Amerat mountains, Qantab hills, Khairan hills and Bausher hills, besides the hidden beaches at Yiti and Sifah areas, states Arun, who, along with his core team, has explored and found newer avenues to satiate the group’s hunger for trekking. Pointing out that there are a host of well-marked trails at Wakan village, Jabal Akhdar and Jabal Shams, the experienced trekker and adventure enthusiast sounds a note of caution: “Precaution must be taken while exploring the unmarked trails. It is advisable to go with an experienced group with proper backup and mandatory trekking gear, including water, sturdy hiking boots, hand gloves, full length cotton (loose) clothing, hiking pole, sunglasses, hat, energy drinks, energy bar, snacks, whistle, torch, fully charged mobile phone, radios and satellite phone (optional).” The importance of carrying adequate water cannot be overemphasised, whether it is summer or winter, as the body dehydrates faster when exposed to the outside weather. According to Arun, 2 to 3 litres of water is mandatory for a trek that stretches between two to three hours. Other safety requirements include having a leader and a sweep to ensure everyone in the group is on the right track. As far as AO is concerned, the core team does a recce to understand the path and the requirements thereof. “The path is first assessed to mark it with the grade or level of the

November 2016

trekkers, as not all paths are easy for everyone,” he states. Interestingly, the excitement of trekking in unmarked trails within the capital is not restricted to the panoramic views alone; trekkers have also caught sight of gazelles in the wild - even foxes and snakes, some of which are poisonous, requiring one to be alert. With adventure underscoring all the activities of AO, seasoned members of the group have also tried their hands (literally) at rock climbing and have initiated desert crossing sorties – both of which are restricted to the

winter months. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the closest is the Khubra Valley, which is around 70kms from Muscat. It has hooked trails and there are different levels marked, points out Arun, who has invested in the expensive rock climbing gear. “It should be undertaken under supervision and always in a group with a minimum of two persons,” he cautions. *Adventure Oman is a group of outdoor enthusiasts who love camping, trekking, hiking, snorkeling, photography, offroad driving, rock climbing; it is a voluntary group of amateur hobbyists.

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Kite

Surfing W

inter may have no direct bearing on a highly adrenaline boosting sport like kite surfing, but the season is known to present an ideal ambience for first-timers seeking a cautious start. As Alexander Friesl, Managing Director of Kiteboarding Oman explains,“Winter in Oman offers good lighter conditions for a safe start into the sport and light wind disciplines such as race-kiting and HydrofoilKiting. In Foiling and Racing you don’t want to have that much wind as the tactical understanding of the actual

wind situation - where to tack and how to set the most efficient curse in a race for the personal advantage - is the real challenge.” But if you are seeking Kiteboarding Holidays, summer is a better time, he maintains. For Muscat residents, Al Hail and Azaiba are the best kite surfing spots, states Alexander, listing wind condition as a perfect spur to get into action. “Thermal wind situation, caused by mountains in the back, presents a pretty reliable system in the afternoons,” he adds.

However, kite surfing during winter has its own demands, as far as the sports gear is concerned. Pointing out that special light wind gear is required in winter, he lists the requirements as, “really efficient kites and/or hydrofoil board, which is the latest development in the sport.” Winter or not, kite surfing cannot be listed as an easy sport, as it is a combination of several elements, all of which require equal attention. “You need to control a kite, which means a basic understanding of an aerodynamic wing and the skill to

November 2016

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perform a board sport - at the same time. Proper training, which guides you through the basics and important steps, is a must in order to start safe and ease into your kite life. I would say it requires a lot of training at the beginning; things become more easy after the first 20 hours or so on a kite,” he explains.

Bar al Hickman Camp

For wannabe kite surfers, here is a quick checklist of dos and don’ts from the expert: “The main requirements are being able to swim and a minimum age of 14 years. No other pre knowledge is required, as this will be learned during the course. The understanding of the sport as a serious sport rather an activity is important; this requires a bit or work at the beginning. Being on the board at the beginning is rather an achievement than an entertainment…”

Gardening in Oman

f adventure is not a stimulus to venture outdoors, gardening could be your best bet to experience the flavours of the season. Winter is the perfect season to get started, says Rachel Eapen*, lifestyle blogger. “In our part of the world, the optimum planting time is October and November; September is the best time to start preparing your soil before planting the seeds,” she suggests. An experienced gardener with a penchant for interior décor, Rachel has the following guidelines for wannabe gardeners. Garden patch or area: Select your garden patch in your backyard or planters if you decide to do it in your balcony. It is always best to start small with planters and potted plants. However, please make sure your area gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. If the

November 2016

Rachel Eapen

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According to Rachel, balcony and terrace gardens are more intimate, easy to manage and can easily enhance the living experience of the home. She advises choosing colourful pots, preferably terracotta, which have better drainage with saucers under drainage holes to avoid spillage. “Vertical gardening is another option if you have space constraints. Vines and plant climbers are good to cover your balcony rails and wall; use hanging planters to give a vertical dimension. And, to add a little drama and cosiness to your balcony add one or two strings of fairy lights or Moroccan lantern and place an outdoor chair to make it your own sanctuary,” she states and suggests the following plants for Oman’s climate. Money Plants: This is a fast growing vine plant and it doesn’t need constant watering. It requires little sunlight, constant air circulation and little water. Boston fern: Ferns are vibrant green plants and are best suited in hanging planters. All it needs is a cool place with indirect sunlight. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum): Spider plant produce long leaves that are green and pale yellow and are best suited in hanging planters. These need mild sunlight and water moderately. This is a plant that reproduces baby plants quickly and cleans the air from harmful toxins. Snake plant (Sansevieria): Snake plant is the most tolerant plants of all. This is a plant that you can afford to neglect and it will still look fresh. It needs indirect sunlight and very little water; it is best suited as a corner plant. Dwarf Jade Bush: This is a succulent bush that has bright green leaves with thick brown stems. It needs good air circulation and little water. This plant is considered as a good bonsai plant.

Aloe vera

sunlight is too harsh you can consider using netting for shade. This will help in keeping the soil cool and reduce moisture loss. Prepare your soil in September: Augment your soil with compost and fertiliser and keep it ready before you plant the seeds. I prefer to plant the seeds in a seed-tray till it germinates; I then transfer it to the pot or my garden patch. Shower your love and nurture: The best time to water your plants is early morning, before the heat goes up. However, please do not over water. If the soil is not dry and contains moisture, you need not water. Fertilise once in a while to provide nutrients to your plants. And, weeding is an important task because weeds invade your crop space, nutrients and water.

Dwarf Jade bush

But if you have a backyard, balcony or terrace that gets direct sunlight, the most popular and colourful flowering plant to grow are Petunias. They are grown in pots and hanging baskets. They do not need a lot of water and grow best in sun. Even marigold, bougainvillea, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, aloe vera, cactus are good options which are best suited for Oman’s weather. The other option is to create your own kitchen garden. For the past couple of years, every winter I have grown cherry tomatoes, green beans, spinach, green chilli, eggplant, lady’s finger and different herbs. There is nothing more rewarding that reaping your own harvest (Rachel is an amateur self-taught artist, a photography enthusiast, freelance writer and a passionate blogger who chronicles about interiors, décor, art & artists, illustrators, designs, photography, travel and culinary adventures through her blog Tickled by Inspirations - http:// tickledbyinspirations.blogspot.com/)

November 2016

in CONVERSATION

Lisa Morgan: Oman is home to me Vocalist, voice over/recording artist, choral director and music educator Lisa Morgan’s ‘home grown’ project, ‘Oman is home to me’, is a paean to the nation ‘Oman is home to me’, a joyous rendition of Oman’s mesmerising charm, has found an endearing connect with music lovers in the country, garnering over 9,000 hits since it was uploaded on YouTube, last month.

She now wants to turn the song into a music video. As she puts it, “The words of the song are so descriptive of the beautiful scenery and the people of Oman…it is screaming out for a music video with beautiful images complementing the words.”

Composed and performed by ABA (American British Academy) Choral Director, Lisa Morgan, it is a tribute to the nation, which marked its 46th National Day, earlier this month. It traces Oman’s cultural abundance and reflects on the shared sentiments of residents, both locals and expatriates, who have long cherished the country as their home. The refrain, ‘Oman is home to me’ rekindles those very emotions.

With Oman making it to Lonely Planet’s top ten places to see in the world in 2017, a video of the song could help leverage this status. “In my dreams I see it shown on every Oman Air flight…” quips Lisa, who has wowed listeners with her expertise as a lyricist, music composer, vocalist, recording artist and a performer – the latter at schools and organisations where she has been called to perform the song. On her wish list is a performance at the Royal Opera House Muscat and a presentation of the song personally to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Produced in collaboration with Omani musicians, Idris al Balushi, Nibras al Mullahi, Tahra al Balushi, and Khalid al Rahbi, with Maciej Sokolowski and the ABA school choir, Lisa Morgan’s composition of her instinctive love for the country, has made it to the Oman FM charts.

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Lisa came to Oman in July 2011 to join her husband Gerhard and has since found a deep connect with the land and its people. She joined the Sultan School as the head of music before

moving to ABA as the Choir Director. It was during a summer holiday abroad that she got inspired to compose ‘Oman is home to me’. It was a strong desire to fill the void in English songs celebrating Oman that acted as a spur. “I decided to compose a song that honoured the common people of Oman,” she states. Whether it is a line about a Bedouin who lives in the desert or a verse on His Majesty’s inspirational leadership, the song is essentially a celebration of all that Oman is. Once the lyrics were in place, it didn’t take her long to write the music. Her long and varied experience in the field of music helped in composing the hummable song, which has found a bond with both locals and expatriates alike. Calling it a home-grown project, Lisa points out that the song was put together without renting any fancy studios or receiving any corporate support. Although Lisa began her musical tryst with piano lessons when she was eight, it was in singing that she found

when she met her future husband Gerhard, who instilled in her a love for all things travel. As for the future, she wants to continue singing, directing choirs,

teaching music and making music. She describes music as the greatest form of cultural expression. “It is an international language; it is a beautiful way of communicating,” she maintains

in CONVERSATION

her anchorage. “I could harmonise naturally,” she recalls. By the age of 12, she was singing as a backup vocalist. She joined the school rock band as the lead vocalist when she was 13. The following year the band won a nationwide rock band competition and a year later Lisa won a prize as the best vocalist in the nation. She was only 17 when her music teacher asked her to be the choir director of the school. “That gave me the chance to put my understanding of harmony into practice,” she states. She earned the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of New South Wales and continued singing as well as developing her professional career as a music educator. She was at school

Up Close & Personal With

Lisa Morgan

The home I grew up in… Was a loving home in Sydney Australia where I lived with my mum, dad and little sister Nicole. We led a simple life but I always remember being happy and surrounded with affection. When I was a child I wanted to… Ride my bicycle, play with the other kids up the road and be a tom boy – resulting in many scraped knees and a broken cheekbone! The moment that changed me forever… There were many moments - some good, some not. A great moment was my first proper solo singing performance when I was 12 years old. On a sad note, when my sister passed away – this definitely changed me and my family and our perspective on life. My greatest inspiration… Has been my husband. He always helped me to believe I could live the life I always wanted to. My heroes… My mum and dad. I have seen them suffer the worst thing imaginable – the loss of a child; yet their faith and positive outlook has seen them carry on with dignity and courage.

If I could change one thing about myself… I would try to develop more patience. When I am determined to get the job done, it drives me crazy when others slow the process down. I dream of… Living in a massive house with my family in Kirribilli, overlooking Sydney Harbour. It’s not fashionable but I love… Old music – anything from 40’s swing to Mozart, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Disco, Opera… My greatest regret… Is not moving overseas earlier – it has been amazing! You may not know it but I’m no good at… Whistling – I just can’t do it! If I have time to myself… Read, sleep and catch up with friends My house is… Open to my all my friends and family any time – Ahlan Wa Sahlan! My favourite holiday destination… Could be anywhere that I have never been before. My favourite weekend spot in Oman… In summer, it is chilling in a pool overlooking a beach, and, in the cooler months, the Sharqiya Sands.

Five things I like about Oman… The people, the culture, the Royal Opera House, the desert and Salalah. On top of my wish/bucket list… Is to go to the Carnivale in Rio – singing and dancing in the parade! My success mantra is… All or nothing. If you are going to do something, you gotta do it right and give it all you have got – otherwise don’t bother doing it at all. In 10 years’ time I hope to be… Seeing the world while singing, recording, running singers’ workshops to help other singers… and getting paid an insane amount of money doing it!

November 2016

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Oman’s home-grown ‘influencers’ are ruling the social media with their daily dose(s) of suggestions and ideas on a variety of topics, subtly promoting products and services to their followers

ocial media influencers have arrived and how… Oman’s retail industry has quickly latched on to the trend, scouting high profile social media influencers (SMI) to promote their products/services. Whether it’s the launch of a new product, menu or a fashion trend, the new breed of SMIs are proving to be the best bet to create social media flutter and garner the right attention. In the following feature, we present the takes of two popular SMIs - Halima Abdul Salam and Layla Al Siyabi - on the influence they wield in the infinite world of social media. For Lifestyle Blogger Halima Al Abdul Salam, the prestigious tag of social media influencer happened when she started sharing her ‘authenticated’ personal experiences on social media, on lifestyle elements – movies, events, beauty products and the like – which caught the interest of her followers. “The number of followers were on an increase, daily, and their interactions and being influenced caught the attention of local and international brands and corporates, which led to me being identified as one of Oman’s SMIs,” she notes. Winner of Al Mara 2015 Excellence Award in Social Media, she relies mainly on Instagram and SnapChat, and also uses Twitter and Facebook. She credits Instagram for building her name and company. For Layla A., Creative Director of Being Layla, social media provided an outlet to her fashion design business, following the start of her blog in 2010, when she was trying to navigate through her career. As she points out, “I wanted an outlet where I could express myself through fashion, beauty and just being myself. I wanted other women and youth to know that you can be true to yourself while you carry on your journey... That is when ‘beinglayla_A’ came up - it is a platform for many like me who do not fit into labels. They can connect and find my fashion, beauty and lifestyle ideas as inspiration.” Her jour ney

G I B e h T ence Influ of ‘influencing’ led her to explore other mediums and soon she started using Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram as well as Facebook to present her views and opinions. “Each of my platforms are utilised to show bits and pieces of myself through fashion, beauty, lifestyle and inspiration,” she adds.

Challenges of being a SMI Halima: The challenges I faced on

the way, in terms of followers, was that some didn’t understand what was I doing (sharing personal experiences and blogging about it). Some thought it was just bragging and showing off. But, eventually, they understood and started supporting. In terms of corporates, some weren’t themselves on the social media, so it was a bit hard to explain the importance and power of social media (but that is changing too).

Layla: There are always challenges in every step you decide to take that is ‘unconventional’. And with social media being such an open platform, where so many different types of people mingle, it came with a price. Generally, I faced naysayers, critics and the ones that didn’t think what I am doing was serious. Overcoming these was through practice and patience. Practicing to be consistent in my content, deciding to stick with my true self and believing that sooner or later there will be hope for what I preach. Two years into this game

Halima Abdul Salam

November 2016

Role of SMIs Halima: In Oman

it isn’t as big or accurate as it should be… There are many individuals and corporates who still don’t know the meaning of an influencer. A lot of them think that you are considered one just because you have a big number of followers - which is wrong. It’s true they give more exposure due to the number of followers, but people need to look into their content, what and who do they represent… In this part of the world, most successful SMIs are those in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Layla: With social media taking the

front seat at the moment, it is crucial for businesses and individuals to connect to the right audience. Each influencer has his/her own aesthetics, style, influence and audience. As an influencer I believe you should create value to your content; your ideas should be worth sharing. It is very important for the audience to realise why they should dedicate their time to listen, watch or be interactive on your platforms, and to me that is what I focus on. It makes a big difference to businesses and brands, especially in a growing economy like ours.

What is needed to become a recognized SMI? Halima: Be unique, be yourself,

don’t imitate, create a specialised line of yourself, see what you are most good at and focus more on it. Improving the way you present it will gain you more success - like how from reviewing food on Instagram led me to have a weekly column on one of the local publications and on YouTube. Recently, I worked on a shooting to be featured in one of MTV Lebanon shows and will soon work with a European channel, to be announced soon.

Layla: Good content - it shouldn’t just be a bunch of photos or videos promoting things. The content you create should have value to yourself, your audience and potential brands and businesses. You should also be able to connect with your audience on a personal level while being honest with your views, reviews and opinions. You have to be brave since you have to put yourself out there.

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and I can safely say my journey into social media influencing has been proactive, valuable and encouraging.

Can it open up newer career options? Halima: Indeed it can; but only if

you think right and work it right, in a way that both you and the client would benefit from a collaboration. I now own a company, of which one of the activities is to manage social media personalities and influencers, which I collaborate with brands and corporates and link them to influencers and social media personalities.

Layla: Yes I do believe so. Through my career in being a public figure I have had some amazing opportunities, meeting other high profile figures, working with brands I truly believe in… But the most important fact has been that I am able to express all the things I am passionate about and tie it into one form. Omani youth can definitely benefit from this era, where we connect the most through digital life. What is a typical day in the life of a SMI? Halima: It begins at night when I

Layla Al Siyabi

of equally strong people that helps me keep up with my agenda. My brand manager being my husband, working with a good PR and assistant and of course forming a team for production was evident once my platforms kicked off (www.beinglayla.com; Instagram, twitter and snapchat: @beingLayla_A; Facebook: www.facebook.com/beingLayla.A)

check my schedule for the following day and coordinate accordingly. I start by heading to my office and finish pending tasks. Then, rest of the day, is either spent attending events, planning events or just meeting up with clients for possible collaborations. Then end the day with the family during dinnertime... (Instagram: @halima.alabdulsalam) Layla: I have to say, it is crazy sometimes. The social media industry is super fast, and not only am I in social media but my niche is fashion and beauty, which means I have to be on top of the game all the time. I take up meetings, do my content creation, schedule posts, attend events, make public appearances, keep in touch with other social media influencers online and offline, video editing and branding. I started as a onewoman show, but I have had the pleasure of forming a reliable brand out of my platform and now have help

November 2016

in the SPOTLIGHT

Not Alone… Not Alone Oman, the first of its kind mental health awareness initiative from Whispers of Serenity Clinic, will go on a journey around the Sultanate ‘You are not alone in your suffering, we are with you’, the message relayed through the ‘Not Alone’ initiative, launched by Whispers of Serenity in 2014, will transpire in a journey across the nation. The Not Alone Convoy will travel to one city every month. “The aim of this convoy is to reach people who can’t otherwise come to us for therapy and counselling. By doing that, we will be raising awareness about the importance of mental health and how we can help ourselves or someone we know, in overcoming their suffering from mental health disorders. We will be conveying the message of ‘You are not alone’ in a more defined and community-related aspect,” explained Janab Sayyida Basma Al Said, creator of the campaign and the owner of Whispers of Serenity Clinic. She was addressing a press conference to launch the new campaign under the Not Alone programme. The convoy will include a team of 25 or so people, including Whispers of Serenity team of

November 2016

psychologists, media and volunteers. In addition, there will be a couple of prominent public figures from the society who are passionate about spreading mental health awareness. The initiative, when first launched, was presented in the form of a video clip in both Arabic and English; it introduced many disorders that could affect ones mental state. The video also featured contributions from prominent public figures and personalities that added more value and strength to the message being relayed, which is ‘You are not alone in your suffering, we are with you’. Following on the success of that initiative, this year’s convoy will travel around the country, consolidating the on going efforts to raise mental health awareness. It is a one of its kind mental health awareness initiative in the Sultanate. The idea was conceptualised to help people struggling to understand their problems and instil in them the importance of seeking help. “There is still so much stigma related to this issue and, it is hard for people to even acknowledge that they may be struggling with certain areas in their life. It is important to know that mental

health diseases, to a large extent, are treatable provided help is given at the right time. It is also important not to ignore the signs, whether it is us or someone we know. We need to be the voice of change and to let everyone know that they are ‘Not Alone’,” states a press note from the Clinic. The press conference also witnessed the launch of two logos of the ‘Not Alone Convoy’. The campaign team

A video will be made of this journey and will be launched in May 2017, on the occasion of the Mental Health Month. This launch will mark the end of the ‘Not Alone Convoy’ tour around the Sultanate. The hope is to keep spreading awareness and to get as many people educated and involved in bringing a change in and around the Oman and helping people to understand that help is available and that ‘You are not alone’

n o h t ara

in the SPOTLIGHT

is in the process of collaborating with different companies and groups for sponsorships. “We welcome those who are willing to help to be a part of this. We will have sponsors for food, travel, media and volunteers as well to help us in this initiative,” the press note added.

M t r ese

e t in th ith a r a p w ok ies to ix stages, r t n u nty co mprised s e w t from ch co i s r h e w n , s aratho t Marathon kilometre m d e r r hund man Dese nce of 165 a d n ed O otal dista Arou d u l c t con y l t n e rec

D n a Om

Janab Sayyida Basma Al Said

The

The Oman Desert Marathon, a unique desert adventure, organised by a sports events company called ‘Adventure’, in cooperation with Omran Tourism Development and Oman Sail, presented enticing vistas of the desert, wowing participants and local spectators. The main objective of the marathon was to spread awareness about the beauty of the Omani desert and to provide the participants with a realistic experience of the desert life. Participants were required to bring their own supplies, such as sleeping bags and other essentials, to last for the duration of the trip, and, by doing so, enjoy the most realistic experience of desert life.

on the participants’ abilities the marathon was spread across six stages - 20km, 28km, 26km, 24km, 42km or 24km marathon. Over its course, the participants enjoyed views of a variety of historical forts and castles, palm oases, sand dunes and Bedouin settlements, as well as taking in the desert wildlife.

of sports science specialists, prior to the marathon. Daily rankings of the race was calculated on the basis of the times recorded at all of the checkpoints, while the overall rankings were determined by adding together the times recorded at each stage of the marathon in the individual standings.

The marathon ended at al Quhaid village near the pristine white beaches of the Arabian Sea. Popularly known as Bidiya sands, Sharqiya sands or Al Wahiba sands, Ramlat al Wahiba is spread over 180km north to south and 80km east to west, with a total area of 12,500sqkm.

In the general ranking, Algerian Rachid el Morabity won the title of the 4th NBO Oman Desert Marathon, followed by Ukrainian Gylva Evgenii in second place and Jordanian Salameh Alaqra in third. Omani athletes Sami Al Saidi and Mossa Al Balushi finished in fourth and fifth position

Contestants were required to undergo a medical test, performed by a team

The route marked for the 165km Oman Desert marathon passed through a diverse terrain. Based

November 2016

feast ON

KOSEBASI:

Cornerstone of Turkish cuisine Savour the authentic taste of eastern Mediterranean cuisine at Kosebasi, the Turkish Artisan grill

Kunefe

Karisik Kebab

Pembe Sultan

rom ‘around the corner’ concept that literally defined its humble beginnings, to a metaphorical rise as the ambassador of Turkish food, Kosebasi (koh-shay-ba-shi) has all the decor trappings of an authentic Turkish artisan grill, with the cuisine designed to take diners on a culinary journey of the Mediterranean town of Tarsus in Southern Anatolia. Buttressed by a heap load of kudos – ‘World’s Top Restaurants’ in 2010 by Zagat, ‘Best Kebab Restaurant in Istanbul’ from Time Magazine, one of the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’

Peynirli Irmik Helvasi by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine and ‘Best Representative of Traditional Turkish Cuisine’ by the International Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry - it made its entry into the Omani food market a year ago, and instantly found its niche in the gourmet circuit as the go to restaurant for authentic Turkish food.

Located strategically in the first level of the extended City Centre Muscat, Kosebasi grows on you, one bite at a time. From the pleasant welcoming smile of the staff at the open entrance to the warm aroma emanating from the kitchen grill, the promise of good food and good ambience is fulfilled with aplomb. Fascinated equally by the rhythmic name and the prospect of savouring

November 2016

Kosebasi Sign

ature Seafood

Platter Photographs: Pushpender Sharma

Hellimli Salata

feast ON

Peynirli Pide

authentic Turkish food, we made a lunch rendezvous with Kosebasi, on a weekday, early this month, and returned satiated and educated in Turkish fare, thanks to restaurant manager Marwan Abo Al Hossan, who guided us through the seemingly endless luncheon with his knowledge of Turkish fare and authentic delights of Kosebasi. Equipped with only limited knowledge of Turkish food, we relied totally on the staff to not just enunciate the names of the dishes right but also learn little titbits about what makes the food so very special. For one, the minced meat used in all the items is hand-ground, to ensure that the temperature is just right. Strict vegetarians need not fret in the choice of food or scrutinise every dish with a ‘veggie’ magnifying glass, as the cold mezzes have no sign of meat and vegetarian salads feature prominently in the menu. Salads (we are told) are a traditional stronghold of Turkish cuisine. Our long lunch began with the choicest selections of mezzes, accompanied with what is popularly referred to as ‘balloon bread’ – light puffed bread with black and white sesames on top. There was a pleasant undercurrent of garlic in all of the mezze items we dug into. Whether it was ‘Pembe Sultan’ – homemade yoghurt mixed with beetroot, Abagannus – grilled eggplant mixed with virgin olive oil and homemade yoghurt or the regular humus. It came with the breadbasket and a platter of pickled vegetables and green and black olives.

Kosebasi signature salad, Hellimli Salata, followed next… This salad, topped with grilled Halloumi cheese on a bed of lettuce and rocket leaves, along with cherry tomatoes and lemon-mayo dressing, is served in a large dish with a portion size that could easily make it a complete lunch. Our vegetarian tryst continued with ‘Sebzeli Pide’, a traditional Turkish pizza with eggplant, mushroom, corn and cheese, and ‘Peynirli Pide’, another traditional Turkish pizza with cheese. And then we were swamped… literally, by succulent meat and fried seafood. A large tray, laden with chicken and mutton kebabs (keeping with our choice of meat items) made a dramatic entry to our table and we were left gasping at the sheer portion size. The ‘Karisik Kebab’, is a mixed grill platter of Kosebasi bestsellers, including tender chicken cubes, marinated beef slices and special lamb kebap (kebab). But we soon learnt that when it comes to portion size, Kosebasi has its ways of outdoing itself. Marked as a family portion (with price to match the size), the really long wooden platter, featuring some of the choicest pieces of jumbo prawns and deep fried squid rings, grabbed our eyeballs.

Titled ‘Kosebasi Signature Seafood Platter’, it contained grilled jumbo shrimps seasoned with Turkish spices and tender squid deep-fried, light and crisp. What a showstopper that… There was more where that came from, as the meal turned to desserts. We have never said no to dessert - we have a gluttonous appetite for desserts, even when the mains have done more justice than they should. And so it was, on that beautiful winter afternoon, we moved on to the desserts with the ease of a foodie. On our table were ‘Peynirli Irmik Helvasi’hot semolina with cheese, vanilla ice cream and cinnamon, ‘Kunefe’ – homemade traditional Turkish kunefe stuffed with molten cheese, bathed in sugar syrup and topped with vanilla ice cream or kashta; and ‘Cilek Jelli Muhallebi’ – traditional milk custard topped with fresh strawberry and jelly. It was the surprising combo of ice cream and hot semolina that got cleaned out fast – a must–try for all dessert lovers. As they say in Turkey, ‘Afiyet olsun’ (bon appetite) everyone!

November 2016

let’s COOK

Eat Out Get into the mood for al fresco dining, as Simran Dhanju whips up dishes that scrumptiously complement the season

Spinach Salad with Avocado and Cilantro Dressing For Salad: l 250g/ 4 cups baby spinach l 2 plums, sliced l ¼ cup pomegranate seeds l 1 medium beetroot, cut in juliennes l 2tbsp pine nuts, toasted l 10-12 walnut halves toasted For Dressing: l 1 large avocado l ½ cup cilantro leaves l 1 clove garlic l 2tbsp sour cream l ¼ cup yogurt l 1 ½tbsp lime juice l Salt & pepper Method: 1 Wash salad leaves and pat dry. 2 For dressing, blend all the dressing ingredients together in blender. 3 Arrange salad leaves in a bowl. Place plums; pour dollops of dressing, garnish with beetroot juliennes, pomegranate, pine nuts and walnuts on top. 4 Serve as a side with grilled chicken or meat.

Pineapple and Honey Glazed Chicken Ingredients: l 500g chicken breast fillet l ¼ cup pineapple Juice l ¼ cup honey l 1tsp red chilli flakes l 2tbsp lime juice l Zest of 1 lime l 1½tsp salt l 3tbsp oil l ½tsp dark soy sauce Method: 1 Wash and cut chicken fillets in thick strips. 2 In a bowl combine pineapple juice, honey, chilli flakes, lime juice, salt, oil and soy sauce. Add chicken strips; mix, cover and keep it in refrigerator for minimum 2 hours or overnight. 3 Light up charcoals, prepare the barbeque grill, place chicken strips on grilling tray, cover with lid, and grill for 4-6 minutes. In-between, keep basting chicken with leftover marinade. Grill until chicken is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Serve with salad and bread on side.

Simran is a celebrated chef and a winner of multi cooking competitions; she creates visual delights artfully by merging traditional flavours.

November 2016

Health CHECK

e h

y r to

Food has a big say on your health and an even bigger say in treating, rather stemming certain diseases like diabetes You are what you eat!

There is no denying the impact of certain foods on your health, especially if you are diabetic or are at a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Here is a list of the so-called ‘food offenders’; these are foods that contain high amounts of fat, sodium, carbohydrates and calories, which could increase your risk for a variety of health problems, including uncontrolled blood sugar, and weight gain.

Battered Fish

Fish is generally seen as a safe choice for diabetics, but the danger lies in consuming it in its fried form. For example, if you were to order a typical breaded-fish meal, you would also be tucking into a variety of sides, including fries, coleslaw, etc. To get the best out of your fish menu, opt for baked or boiled variety.

Burgers

Burgers are tasty, easy to pick and you can eat them on the go. But the big, cheesy burgers can be high in saturated fat. A quick online check could help to understand a restaurant’s nutrition information before you go dining or have a take away.

Coffee

An ideal coffee beverage for a diabetic would be a low calorie cup with a little milk or half-and-half. But

November 2016

if you were to pick your cup from any of the coffee shops around the capital or one of those popular coffee outlets, you would be in for a calorie overdose, as most are high caloried, with carbs and fat contents.

Cookies, the ones bought from the store with the added sprinkles or chocolate chips could easily contain trans fats. Remember, butter, high-fructose corn syrup, shortening, margarine and the like are the biggest saturated fat and trans fat contributors, with a lot of potential to add calories and carbs. However, if you are craving to bite into a cookie, go ahead and bake them at home. The same theory applies to store-bought cakes too.

Deep-fried starters

Agreed, deep-fried snacks (including fried chicken) have a higher yum quotient; but it is also true that they are the ones that are packed with all things wrong for your health. If you must have a starter or want to tuck into an entrée, look for healthier ways to cook them at home.

French fries

Some foods, like the popular French fries are difficult to say ‘no’ to, but avoid it one must, as they are loaded with saturated fat, sodium, and calories. You could, of course, find options for trans-fat-free fries; however, they cannot be bracketed as good, especially when you have diabetes to contend. Treat yourself to a healthy dose of fries by making them at home in your oven.

Fruit juice

This may come as a surprise, but fruit beverages, sold in ready to consume packs, could also be bad for diabetics, as they can be high in calories and sugar. Get into a habit of checking the labels to assess the nutrition information per serving.

Milk shakes

Rich milk shakes, available at a restaurant or a fast food joint, is loaded with sugar and calories. Prepare one at home and enjoy your milk shake – guilt free.

Health CHECK

Doughnuts

Baked goodies, including doughnuts that you purchase from the store are high in calorie, sugar and fat contents. It is best to check out the food levels and opt for fat-free, sugar-free, or reduced-sugar varieties. Alternately, make them at home.

Nachos

Movies are just not complete without a portion of nachos. However, studies have shown that an order of nachos, whether at the cinema or in a restaurant, often exceeds an entire meal’s worth of calories, carbs, and fat.

Frozen meals

Ready to eat frozen meals are, of course, convenient and easy if you have a busy office life. But they are packed with high sodium and fat contents that can make them a very unhealthy choice. That also applies to frozen pizzas, which are full of calories.

Soft drinks

Fizzy soft drinks are loaded with sugar and can easily spike the blood sugar levels. These drinks add calories and carbs and also lead to weight gain. You could opt for diet versions, which are made with sugar substitutes and other healthier alternatives.

What to EAT

Carbohydrates: whole grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, millet, or amaranth; baked sweet potato; dishes made with whole grains. Vegetables: fresh vegetable; greens such as kale, spinach, and arugula; unsalted canned vegetables; a variety of coloured vegetables. Fruits: Fresh fruit; plain frozen fruit or fruit

canned without added sugar; sugar-free or low-sugar jam or preserves.

Protein: plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, seeds, or tofu; fish and seafood; chicken and other poultry; eggs and low-fat dairy; low fat meat; plantbased proteins.

Dairy: 1 percent or skim milk; low-fat yoghurt; low-fat cottage cheese; low-fat or nonfat sour cream.

Fats and oils: natural sources of vegetable fats, such as

nuts, seeds, or avocados; foods that give omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, or mackerel; plant-based oils, such as canola, grape seed, or olive oils.

Drinks: water, unflavoured or flavoured sparkling water; unsweetened tea; coffee, black or with added low-fat milk and sugar substitute.

November 2016

Healthy TIDINGS

r t r y n n e t n s f

Weight gain from diet soda sweetener Diet soda guzzlers may need to rethink their reasons for consuming the drink. New research has suggested that aspartame, a common sugar substitute used as a sweetener in many ready to consume foods and beverages, particularly diet soda, may be ineffective for weight loss, and may even have the opposite effect. According to research, even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame, as regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain. Other studies in rodents have shown that compared with sugar, sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame causes weight gain instead of weight loss.

Android Vs. iPhone users

‘Are there any personality differences between Android and iPhone users’ - that was the crux of a psychological research conducted by researchers in the UK. The study asked 500 participants to answer a set of questions about themselves and their attitude towards their smartphone. The comparison showed that iPhone users are more than twice as likely to be female; they are more concerned about viewing their iPhone as a status object than their Android counterparts. The study noted key differences in personality, with iPhone users showing lower levels of honesty and humility, and higher levels of emotionality. iPhone users were also more extroverted than Android users. In contrast, Android users were more likely to be male, older, and less interested in wealth and social status; they displayed more honesty and agreeability.

Are you on a yo-yo diet? If you answered ‘yes’ to the above question, you might take comfort from the fact that researchers are now attributing the so-called ‘yo-yo effect’ or the inability to maintain long-term weight loss, to gut microbes. Adopting a healthy diet is, of course, considered a key weight loss strategy for individuals who are overweight or obese, but very few people are able to achieve long-term weight loss. This could cause ‘yo-yo effect’ or ‘weight cycling’, where weight loss and regain can occur in cycles, leading to health issues. New research has now suggested that it may be down to changes in the gut microbiome - the abundance of microorganisms in the intestine - in response to dieting.

Turmeric to treat Psoriasis Turmeric, whose medicinal values have been endorsed on various platforms for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in combating many diseases, might prove effective in treating psoriasis. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is where many of the spice’s health benefits stem from. While the research is not conclusive, current evidence suggests that this spice may help in the management of certain skin disorders like psoriasis, which is marked by inflamed, scaly skin. Researchers have investigated the use of turmeric in preventing and managing a range of conditions, particularly those that involve inflammation. It may help to relieve psoriasis and other inflammatoryrelated skin conditions, say researchers.

November 2016

between mental disorders and physical diseases. However, it is for the first time that psychologists have identified temporal patterns in young people: arthritis and diseases of the digestive system are more common after depression, while anxiety disorders tend to be followed by skin diseases. Researchers noted that some physical diseases tend to occur more frequently in children and adolescents if they have previously suffered from certain mental disorders. Likewise, certain mental disorders tend to occur more frequently after the onset of particular physical diseases. Affective disorders such as depression were frequently followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system, while the same relationship existed between anxiety disorders and skin diseases.

healthy TIDINGS

Depression affects the stomach… Studies have long shown the interconnection

‘Old-age’ conditions among the young More young people are contracting ‘old-age’ conditions, including varicose veins, haemorrhoids, back pain and knee joint problems due to bad postures and sedentary lifestyles, states a study. It found that treatment, traditionally offered to older generations, was increasingly being sought by younger people, aged mainly between 25 and 45, which it attributed to time spent sitting at desks, watching television and using smartphones and tablets. Removal of haemorrhoids and varicose veins were two of the most common procedures in the heart and circulatory diseases category for both 26 to 35-year-olds and 36 to 45-year-olds. And arthroscopic knee operations were one of the five most common procedures among 16 to 25-year-olds.

Eat ice cream for breakfast and become more intelligent People who eat ice cream when they wake up have faster reaction times and are better at processing information, according to an experiment carried out by Yoshihiko Koga, a professor at Kyorin University in Tokyo. His subjects had to eat three spoons of ice cream first thing in the morning and then use a computer to complete a number of mental exercises. He found that people who had eaten ice cream had faster reaction times and were better at processing information than a separate group that didn’t eat any breakfast. Professor Koga then tried the same experiment with cold water to check if the ice cream’s temperature was simply shocking the subjects awake. But while people who had drunk the cold water did show some level of increased mental performance and alertness, the effect was not as pronounced as with the ice cream.

Paternal bond and behavioural problems in children Fathers who are emotionally involved with their children and feel confident as a parent are less likely to raise offspring with behavioural problems, suggests a research. A study of over 6,000 children found that a father’s emotional attachment and strong bond with a child - as opposed to how much practical childcare they carried out - had the strongest effect on whether a child suffered problems. Experts looked at markers of involvement such as fathers being confident with their child, forming a strong bond, feeling fulfilled and parenthood making them feel closer to their partner.

November 2016

in the luxe

Camp it up When outdoor spells fun and camping translates as pampering, the obvious denominator is the chosen campground. Have an eyeful of some of the super exclusive and expensive campgrounds around the world; the one’s that are designed to cater to folks who want to plug in their outdoor quest with rest and relaxation, in tents that are bigger than average apartments and are primped with amenities that are on par with five star hotels

Golden Triangle

In Northern Thailand’s lush bamboo jungles is the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, which has earned repute for its uber luxury as well as outdoor activities that include elephant treks through the bamboo jungles and the mountain passes. The trek is followed by a 90-minute massage. Located in Chiang Rai, close to Southern Burma and Western, Laos, the tents feature huge decks, hot tubs, customised bathtubs and outdoor showers. Price: $2467 (per night)

Wilderness Resort

The Clayoquot Wilderness, a rustic resort in Vancouver Island, is only accessible via a private charter plane or a boat ride, adding to the allure of the campsite. Designed to reflect both modern and vintage elements in the décor, the resort is arranged amidst the nature’s grandeur of pine forests and peaks. Occupants have the liberty to create their own outdoor adventure - whether it is scuba diving, fishing, horseback riding or simply getting a massage and the requisite pampering. Activity options also include yoga classes, kayaking, and archery among a host of others. Hiking and fishing expeditions, where guests can guests can plunge deep into the wilderness, are on the top of the popularity list. Price: $3900 (per night)

November 2016

Longitude 131°

Australia’s Longitude 131° is the camp to be for a wholesome sensorial experience. Overlooking the sacred Monte Uluru, the most iconic elements of the Australian outback, the camp, featuring 15 luxury tents, is designed to create a perfect harmony between the nature and human luxuries. The floor-toceiling windows in the main lodge present some of the best day views, while the lofty canopy of individual tents open up to the night sky. Price: $2400 (per night)

Longitude 131°

Wilderness Resort

Described as an epic campsite, Tanzania’s Entamanu Ngorongoro reflects the nomadic cultures of surrounding villages. It is about 200kms from Arusha, where most adventure seekers start their exploration of Northern Tanzania. Mongolian yurts and traditional Meru tents are some of the highlights of the décor elements used within the camp, while the outdoors is reserved for panoramic views of Tanzania – from the Ngorongoro Crater to the southern Serengeti. Price: From $1,235 (per night)

Chiawa Camp

For those seeking to season the camping trip with a safari experience, the Chiawa Camp in Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia is the best bet. It is regarded as Africa’s finest safari operation, where guests can go on guided safari tours and hunting trips or go canoeing and fishing. Dining is also made special with a sundeck that looks out on the entire national park. Price: $1300 (per night)

in the luxe

Entamanu Ngorongoro

Paws Up

Right in the middle of the 37,000-acre estate, hemmed by rugged Montana, is the luxury Resort at Paws Up, offering the most exclusive resort ranch experience in Montana. There are 28 luxury cabins and homes, alongside uber-luxury tents, which are nestled within a forest of tall timbers. These overlook a panorama of meadows, rivers and creeks, with the picturesque mountains in the backdrop. Price: $1690 (per night)

Paws Up

Chiawa Camp

Soneva Fushi

Kunfunadhoo Island in Maldives is popular among tourists who are lured by its beautiful coral reefs. At Soneva Fushi, it is that plus the luxury of living in tent, packed with amenities as well as a private butler. There are nine different food and beverage options throughout the camp, making dining a truly memorable experience. The camp is also equipped with a full-size space observatory to offer guests a celestial star gazing experience. Price: $1482 (per night) Soneva Fushi

Minaret Station

The luxury campground of Minaret Station in New Zealand is only accessible by helicopters. The tents, made out of sheepskin, are equipped with a king size bed, private deck and hot tubs and the outdoors are made interesting with activities that include hiking, wild game viewing, helicopter tours, fly fishing, skiing and hunting trips with guides along. Price: $1176 (per night) Minaret Station

November 2016

explore OMAN

Oman ranked 8th top travel destination Leading travel guide, Lonely Planet, has ranked Oman 8th among the top countries in the world to visit in 2017

eauty, indeed, has a new address. The latest ranking from Lonely Planet, the leading travel publication, has confirmed the fact that Oman is, overwhelmingly, a paradise for tourists seeking to savour the rugged beauty of nature in its diverse settings. Lonely Planet has ranked Oman eighth in the world among top countries to visit in 2017.

Top recognition

It is the only country from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East to have made it to the list; it is the first time Oman has been featured in the ‘Best in Travel’ travel guide since 2009. Recently, the World Economic Forum in its latest biennial Travel and Tourism report also ranked Oman 9th in terms of safety and security. Globally, Oman has been recognised as a safe and secure destination for single travellers.

November 2016

Luxury hotels & theme parks Oman has seen an increased number of flights and luxury hotels, including the award-winning Alila Jabal Akhdar in the Hajar Mountains, Six Senses Zighy Bay on the Musandam Peninsula and the recently opened Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The Sultanate is also investing in entertainment parks – and the US$120-million Majarat Oman, a futuristic theme park for families, is set to open doors in 2017.

Rise in tourists

Oman saw about 2 million international visitors in 2015 and plans to attract more than 5 million visitors with its new national 2040 Tourism Strategy.

Global events

Earlier this year, Oman created sporting history by becoming the first country in the Middle East to host the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman in February. This

was a monumental opportunity for Oman to promote its sailing roots on an international scale. In February, Oman Sail also hosted EFG Sailing Arabia, which entails two weeks of world-class racing around the Gulf Region. The Tour provides an opportunity for Oman Sail to get more Omanis out on the water since at least three domestic teams take part amongst countries such as a Germany, Monaco, and Great Britain. For the past five years, The Tour of Oman also managed to attract world’s top cyclists and teams. Oman has always been open to embracing world’s customs and has a rich landscape to offer opportunities for such events. These events help raise the profile of Oman and further cement it as a niche destination for adventure, outdoor activities, luxury, spa and wellness in addition to culture and heritage

Oman has opened campgrounds for Recreational Vehicles (RV) in key tourist areas, presenting an all-new option for tourists – both domestic and international

explore OMAN

Oman’s first RV campground

in one place; however, it would always be better and secure to park in the campground where the RV user will have minimum facilities such as hookups for electric power, water supply and waste disposal in addition to other added services.

magine taking your home with you on your weekend jaunts in the country; in a special trailer, equipped with comfortable living space and the requisite amenities to season the trip with that special home-away-from-home feeling... Following a strategic collaboration between Omran and Oman Motorhomes to set up the first campgrounds for Recreation Vehicles (RV) in key tourist areas of the country, ‘hitting the road’ is bound to take on an all new flavour. The agreement will provide another dimension to Oman’s developing tourism industry, and enable visitors to experience Sultanate’s attractions in a new way. The agreement will see the first campgrounds established at Al Ashkhara and Salalah. Designed to pamper families wanting to camp out in the lap of nature, in a setting that is reminiscent of ones home, the RVs are expected

to promote the tourism sector while providing an all new experience for visitors. A campground consists, typically, of a place where a camper can park a recreational vehicle (RV); it may have playgrounds, recreation centres, walking paths, camp stores and most importantly electric power, water supply, waste management/ disposal, and convenient stores. The RVs carry luxurious amenities, kitchen, bedrooms, living areas, and bathrooms inside them. They are sufficient as a standalone for few days

With tourists strongly interested in activities such as boat trips, hiking and camping in locations such as Sur, Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Masira Island, the option of taking an RV to base themselves close to the best of these activities is a dynamic addition to Oman’s tourism offering. * Oman Motorhomes is the authorised dealer in Oman for the world’s largest manufacturers of Recreational Vehicles (RVs), including Thor Motorcoach and Forestriver. It offers customers the opportunities to rent or own RVs from the diverse product lines

November 2016

Just TRAVEL

Treks around the world

Rough it out in the big beautiful world of outdoors, with nature for company

hen travel spells outdoors and adventure, trekking is bound to feature in more ways than one. For it is trekking alone that can present a perfect platform to discover a new destination, one step at a time.

Nepal

Here is a list of some exciting trekking destinations for adventure seekers who want to take their passion for trekking to a new level â&#x20AC;&#x201C; literally.

Colombia: Lost City

The perplexing Lost City of the indigenous Tayronas has been described as a pre-historic Morocco Colombia

jewel, one that is hidden among the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. The trek will take you through the thick tropical rainforest and will open up avenues to learn about the customs of the locals and indigenous communities who still live in that area. Best time to visit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December to March

Nepal: Annapurna Circuit

Said to be one of the most popular and beautiful treks in the world, the Annapurna Circuit takes you through a diverse terrain, providing a taste of pine forests, arid landscapes and the Annapurna mountain range.

November October 2016 2016

Just TRAVEL

The total length of the route varies between 100 and145 miles; it could take between 17 and 25 days to complete, depending on your ability. But if you are looking for a shorter trek, you could opt for sections that range anywhere from three days and more. Seasoned trekkers though recommend trekking up to Thorung La summit pass and watching the sunrise over towering peaks at Poon Hill. Best time to visit – October to early December; February to April

Tanzania

Tanzania: Mt Kilimanjaro

If you have the gumption to climb what can seem like a skyscraper, Tanzania’s Mt Kilimanjaro is your destination. At 19,340ft, it is Africa’s highest peak, presenting multiple routes that include hiking through rainforests and alpine deserts and across glaciers – in other words, every ecosystem on earth. It is, of course, no cakewalk, but trekkers who have been there and done that will tell you that it is doable for healthy and fit travellers, with some training beforehand, of course. Best time to visit – September to March

New Zealand: The Routeburn Track

This trek is perfect if you are looking for a shorter trip. It is a three-day trek - Day 1, Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut; Day 2, Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake McKenzie Hut; Day 3, Lake McKenzie Hut to The Divide – but has a whole lot of scenic delights to pack in those three days. The 30km or so trek passes through 2 national parks, Fiordland and Mount Aspiring, and will feature wild birds and breathtaking views of mountain peaks, lakes, waterfalls and rivers. Best time to visit – October to April New Zealand

Italy

Venezuela

Venezuela: Mt. Roirama

Mt. Roraima, which was an inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World’, has a timeless charm about it, thanks to the tabletop (tepuis) summit. It has, over the years, become a popular trekking destination, with the ascent requiring two and a half days from the Pemón village of Paraitepui. Ideally, you should spend at least two nights on top of Roraima to explore its fascinating vistas. Best time to visit – November to April

Sweden: Kungsleden

At this time of the year, this longest and most famous trail in Sweden may be ideal for skiers; but trekking during the summer months opens the scenic bounties of King’s Trail or Kungsleden. The trek starts in the village of Abisko in the north and goes all Sweden

the way to Hemavan; it is a scenic journey that passes through the Scandinavian Mountain Range. It is fully equipped with huts and cabins, making it easy and convenient for hikers. Best time to visit – February to September

Italy: Sentiero Azzurro

The Sentiero Azzurro (The Blue Trail) is an easy to trek trail, even if you are with your family. The Blue Trail connects the 5 villages of Cinque Terre and can be completed in a day – the path is almost flat, making it easy to navigate. It takes about five hours; but if you want to stop by and smell the flowers, so to say, there are plenty of opportunities to give in to your love for all things outdoors. Best time to visit – April to May; September to October

November October 2016

look GOOD

Skin care for the outdoors Glamping, camping or simply roughing it out, your skin deserves an extra dose of tender loving care when outdoors

Forget makeup while camping? Nah… Even if you are not a makeup addict, a dash of that and a dab of this is a must to keep your skin feeling and looking pampered for your next weekend jaunt to the mountains or the beach. Skin care is the need of the hour, literally, as the outdoors can sap it off energy and that fresh glow. But, of course, camping can be as glamorous as you want with a few tried and tested makeup tips and tricks.

Sun protection

Never underestimate the importance of sun protection cream - winter or summer. Even if the weather outside seems pleasant, sunscreen and lip balm are essential in your skincare kit. For the focus, at all times, should be ‘sun safety’. When making a checklist of items to pack for your camping trip, include a minimum SPF 30 for face and body along with a lip balm with SPF. Begin your makeup session with sunscreen and moisturiser; that holds true even if you want to give makeup a break for the camping trip. If foundation and other skin prepping accompaniments are not on your list,

November 2016

dab on some BB cream to get set for the day.

Dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is, by all counts, your best bet for the outdoors. Add to that a detangling brush and your hair will remain degreased and detangled all through your trip. Dry shampoo can be a perfect boost if you have limp hair and can make your scalp feel fresh and clean even after trekking all through the day. It is your handy tool for hair emergencies. Dry shampoo loyalists believe it is not just about convenience while outdoors as regular shampoo on a daily basis can easily strip away the oils and make your hair dry.

Basic makeup

When we say basic makeup, what we really mean is having a double-duty makeup kit. It is easy to double up your cosmetic items by picking, for example, a lipstick that works for lips and cheeks and an eyebrow pencil that can double up as eye liner. This, of course, means opting for items that do not have shimmer or sparkle embedded in them, as that just does not fit with the outdoor theme.

lifestyle mantra

ThaT Messy Bun By Sophia Raman

mascara

If you belong to the vast tribe of makeup addicts who will not step out of home without the essential mascara, you would need to arm yourself with a waterproof variety. Even when the weather is pleasant, a trek or a casual walk outdoors could get you breaking out in light sweat. And that will not be good for your mascara-laden eyes, unless it is waterproof.

Wipe off

What is essential when you are at home is important even when you are out camping. That means washing your face before retiring for the day. Sweat and sunscreen on your pores need to be washed off or at least wiped clean. Keep face wipes handy and you will be as good as new for the next day. The pre-moisturised variety is ideal if water is at a premium. Antiperspirant wipes are convenient while on the go.

DoN’T lET ThE WINDy ouTDoorS uSE your hAIr AS A ruSE To DEmoNSTrATE ITS WhImSIcAl NATurE, gIvE IT A mESSy BuN TWIST… certain things have the seal of style approval, like the messy hairstyle. Even models parading high fashion ensemble on the red carpet sport the messy look, turning that casual at-home look to one that can set a glamour theme going. But what gives this style an interesting twist is it versatility to fit into any occasion, more so the outdoors, which is known to wreak its own little havoc on your hair, at the sign of the slightest wind. So, if an outing is on your agenda this weekend, give the messy bun a try and forget all about taming the strands when the wintry wind goes on a show time mode. The only hitch here is that this seemingly easy hairstyle requires some effort and practice to get the look right. your focus should be on ensuring that you do not go overboard with the ‘messy’ touches, nor let it go limp and deflated. The easiest way is to begin with a loose ponytail, which could be high or low depending on your hair length or your preference. use your fingers so that the look comes across as being effortless. Divide your ponytail into a couple of sections and backcomb or tease the strands to get the desired volume and also that messy texture. Following this step, simply separate it into two sections and wrap the hair in opposite directions, as if you were getting a top knot. Next secure the hair an inch from the bottom of the strands with a pin. Do not fret whether you have got the look right or not, for a messy bun is exactly that – messy. Just remember that it should make you feel comfortable and even glamorous.

November 2016

style FILe

Rough it upâ&#x20AC;Ś in STYLE

You can look and feel fashionable even in your casual outdoor-wear. Check out little tips and tricks picked from experts in the business

Beanie

Denim shorts

Leggings

November 2016

Trekking, hiking or simply camping in the mountains or the beach to watch the sun set in the horizon, your sense of fashion can find its mark if you pack right for the outdoors. Whether it’s a chic baseball cap, a stylish sports bra, trendy pair of leggings or even your casual denims, how you style yourself for the outdoors could make the difference to your look.

Denim shorts

If you are camping by the beach, you would want to wear your denim shorts or carry it along for a splash in the water. Even the mountains would provide the ideal environ to pull up your shorts and go hiking along the nature’s trail, especially when the sun is high. For that special fashionista look, opt for cut-offs in rolled up hemlines.

Leggings

Go for the slim fit high rise leggings, which are sporty, to say the least. They are versatile from the word go, whether you are on a long trek or chilling in your tent. The ‘live in’ comfort of this outfit will keep you going.

Plaid shirt

The plaid shirt may have started as summer fashion, but in this part of the world, when winter is also known to show signs of summer at certain times of the day, a plaid shirt would help you make a good outdoor fashion statement.

White dress

Hooded cardigan

Yes, its winter and any trip outdoors demands some warm clothes, especially in the evenings when the nip in the air could turn chilly by night time. Hooded cardigan will help you make a splash.

Style FILe

Pack right and you won’t go wrong…

Beanie

Hooded cardigan or otherwise, a beanie is definitely a pretty little accessory for the weather this outdoor season. While a baseball hat is perfect for a hiking trip during the day, a beanie would be just right for some fun time around the campfire. The knitted, headhugging beanies are perfect.

If you are hitting the beach and want to simply watch the shore line from your tent, go for a fresh white dress to complement the moods of the sea.

Plaid shirt Hooded cardigan

White dress

November 2016

style FILe

e Th

Par ty

on s a Se As November leads to the big December party season, take stock of your wardrobe and find ways that will make you stand out, whether it’s the office party, a formal banquet or a New Year’s get together Sequins work

If there is one item of dress that screams eveningwear, it would be a sequinned outfit. But instead of going for a fully sequined dress, go for the one with the beads in the right places to throw the spotlight on your other accessories.

Its velvet

Velvet suit, that’s what will make you the centre of the party attention. For a more festive look, choose one in a dep red or a green colour that can flatter every skin tone.

Slip it on

As the slip dress retains its hold on the party circuit, go shopping for one of those with some ruffled hemline. Laces work equally well in giving you that elegant look.

Sequins work

Its velvet

Slip it on

November 2016

esque It wIth Ale Red Talk

Holiday fasHion! ALE AL ZADjALI SHARES HIS THouGHTS oN HoLIDAY TRENDS FoR LADIES

Red talk

It’s finally December! This means that the biggest celebratory event of the month is coming up and the holiday party invites are stacking up. I’m not someone who celebrates Christmas, but growing up in a diverse community and being friends with people from different backgrounds has landed me invites to their parties and I am thrilled about that. I wanted to share my thoughts on my favourite holiday trends for women!

It’s the season to be merry, and can red be far behind… A silk dress in red has festive written all over it.

Skirts and tops

Yes, a skirt and blouse ensemble will work perfectly for that party in your office. You could top a lace blouse with a leather skirt or one of those A-line skirts; or go for a flared bright coloured skirt with some sequined top.

Skirts & Tops

Black…always

Black will always work. Whether it is your little black dress or a regular black outfit with statement sleeves and some bling touches, black is your perfect outfit.

Black....always

Velvet has to be on the top of my list. The weather is finally becoming velvet-friendly and this fabric might be the most obvious go-to for the winter months; it exudes glamour and even if it’s just a touch of velvet (a shawl, a shoe) you will feel majestic. Red! A classic, it’s the perfect colour for everyone! It could be a simple silk dress that you whip out for any occasion; it could be a casual blouse/pants or even a sweater. Sequins…please avoid covering every inch of your body in them - it’s not a wedding. However, pairing a sequin piece with something more neutral, especially strong colours (white, black) can give you a stunning result and help you ditch the idea of accessorising! Lastly, make sure you enjoy any party you are going to and always share your favourite holiday music (my favourites for this year are Fireside by Phi Phi o’Hara and 100 Degrees by Kylie and Dannii Minogue).

Ale Al Zadjali is a 23 year-old award-winning fashion designer; he is the brain behind the ‘Esque By Ale’ line of clothing

November 2016

Outdoors Special 48

Get

OUT! Outdoorsâ&#x20AC;Ś Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the call of the winter. Shake off that summer ennui, get out into the open and breathe in the fresh winter air. Take a cue from the following feature and set out on an exploration/camping trip in the nature-soaked landscapes of Oman

November 2016

Outdoors Special

Camp

OUT I

ts time to blow away the dust from your tent bag and pull out the camping gear from its summer hibernation to enjoy the weather outdoors. Make the most of the twoday weekend this season with a camping trip at one of the popular tourist spots in the country. While beach is your best bet if you are looking for camping sites closer home, with Muscat boasting a host of picturesque shorelines that are both inviting and easily accessible, it is the mountains and the desert that are beckoning. In fact, some of the destinations, like Jabal Shams and Jabal Akhdar, have camping facilities

Camp out and reconnect with nature to experience the fresh vibes emanating from the mountains and the plains

that are just right to cater to your needs, whether with family or friends. The popular Wahiba Sands, or the Al Sharqiya Sands, also has several camping options for those looking to get close to the desert this winter. Although desert safaris are best undertaken with guides from travel agencies, adventure seekers can find avenues to explore the enchanting vistas of the golden sand dunes and camp in the wilderness.

Other camping spots to explore are the Dibab Lake Park to experience its breath-taking sink hole; Yiti for a tryst with nature; Ras Al Hadd for the green turtles; Wadi Tiwi for the rock pools; and Mirbat to explore the landscape, among other exciting destinations around the country. The Daymaniat Islands in Al Batinah South Governorate and the secluded beaches of Musandam Governorate, which is famous for its attractive fjords, are also perfect to explore this winter. You could either pitch your own tent or camp out in those created by the Tourism Ministry in specific areas.

November 2016

Outdoors Special 50

If you check the Oman’s Tourism Ministry portal (http://www. omantourism.gov.om/) you will find the following destinations listed under experiences for camping activities (some of them might need prior permission from the Ministry, though).

Al-Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve

Al-Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, located about 18 kilometres off the coast of Barka and 70 kilometres west of Muscat, is made up of nine islands. Its attraction lies in its pristine beaches and the rich natural heritage replete with several kinds of coral reefs. The reserve features pristine beaches; it has a rich natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of coral reefs.

Bandar Khayran Reserve Located within the precincts of Muscat, this reserve is about half an hour away from Bandar Al Rawdha Marina by boat. It has several attractions – from the dolphins bobbing alongside the boat to the coral reefs, which has been a great lure for divers. There are more than 20 diving locations here, each with its own charm and beauty.

November 2016

Barr Al Hikman

Barr Al Hikman in Al Wusta Governorate is a beautiful sanctuary for birds and fish. This island is considered one of the most important bird migration stations both in Oman and Southeast Asia. Many birds congregate here, especially water birds coming from as far as Siberia’s northern shores.

Khawr Al Maghsayl

The lagoon at Khawr Al Maghsayl in the Governorate of Dhofar is a perfect destination for bird watchers and photography buffs. Important species of indigenous and migratory birds inhabit the lagoon; while some migrate from Africa, Europe and from India, others are permanent residents of the lagoon. The area of this lagoon is about half a square kilometre.

Wadi Shab

Spend a weekend swimming in clear water pools in Al Sharqiyah... This wadi attracts both locals and expats for its beautiful cave, waterfall, and easy access by car.

Outdoors Special

Camping Checklist Are you prepared for a camping trip…?

e prepared…not just in the context of your fitness level or your adventure spirit, but, most importantly, in the basic essentials you would need to make your camping experience hassle-free.

What you carry along – the necessary supplies and equipment – can make a big difference to your trip. Here is a detailed checklist to help you get going:

Tent and all things shelter l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Tent Ground cloth or tarp Shade tarp, poles, rope and stake Mat for tent entrance Dust pan and brush Sleeping bag/air mattress Sheets and blankets Pillow Utility bags for storage Lantern with fuel Extra batteries Compass/GPS Bug repellent Candles Camp chairs First aid kit Lantern pole or hanger Flashlight Pocket knife, scissors Fire extinguisher

Cooking and eating l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Large water jug and bucket, if possible Cooler and ice Thermos Stove with fuel or propane Matches or lighter Charcoal or firewood Campfire grill/BBQ grill Fire starters or newspaper Tablecloth and clips Plates, bowls, paper plates, tissues and spoons Heavy-duty aluminium foil Paper towels Trash bags Dish soap Cooking oil/ spray Containers for food storage Pots and frying pans with lids Spatula, knife, spoon and tongs Skewers/grill forks Folding table Cutting board Napkins Dish rags or old clothes Seasonings and condiments

Clothes and boots l l l l l l l l l l

Shoes/boots Jeans/pant Shorts T-shirts Socks (extra) Hat or bandana Sweatshirt/jacket Innerwear Night clothes Laundry bag

Personal accessories l l l l l l l l

Towels/washcloth Soap/shampoo Tooth brush/tooth paste Deodorant Comb or brush Toilet paper Personal medications Sunscreen/chap stick

In addition to the above checklist, it is also important to tell a friend or a relative of your plans, with details of where you are going and when you expect to return.

November 2016

Outdoors Special 52

Cook OUT

If camping is not on your agenda for the weekend, give outdoor cooking a try, even if it is simply grilling your dinner on your barbecue stand or grill. Here are a couple of barbecue recipes to get you started…

Tandoori Chicken Skewers

Ingredients l Plain yogurt - 1 cup l Red onion - 1 (finely chopped) l Lemon - 1 (juiced) l Ginger - 1 tablespoon minced l Garlic - 3 cloves (crushed) l Garam masala (a blend of ground spices) - 3/4tsp l Ground cumin - 3/4tsp l Cayenne pepper - 1/2tsp, or to taste l Turmeric - 1/4tsp l Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – 4 l Cooking spray Method l Combine yogurt, red onion, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, garam masala, cumin, cayenne, and turmeric in a bowl. l Place chicken breasts in the yogurt mixture and flip to coat; cover bowl with plastic and refrigerate overnight. l Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. l Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and thread onto skewers. Place skewers on the grill and cook, turning every 3 to 4 minutes. l Cook it until chicken is browned on all sides and the juices run clear – for about 15 minutes.

November 2016

Grilled Veggie Skewers

Ingredients l PFresh lemon juice - 1/2 cup l Soy sauce - 1/2 cup l Ground ginger - 1/2tsp l Ground black pepper - 1/4tsp l Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - 4 Method l Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels. l Stir together the lemon juice, soy sauce, ginger, and black pepper in a bowl; pour into a large, re-sealable plastic bag. l Add the chicken breasts, seal the bag, and roll to evenly coat chicken with lemon juice mixture. l Place in refrigerator to marinate at least 20 minutes or overnight. l Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source. l Drain the chicken and it place on preheated grill. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear - 6 to 8 minutes on each side.

Ingredients l Boneless beef short ribs – 2kgs (cut into 3-inch long pieces) l Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste) l Light brown sugar - 2/3 cup l Paprika – 1tsp l Garlic powder - 1/2tsp l White vinegar - 1tbsp l Dried ground thyme - 1/2tsp l Ketchup - 2/3 cup l Yellow mustard - 1tbsp l Worcestershire sauce - 1tbsp Method l Preheat the grill to high heat 300 degrees F. Arrange the short ribs in a 13 by 9-inch baking dish and season with salt and pepper, to taste. l In a small bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients and stir to incorporate. Pour the sauce over ribs and toss well, coating all the pieces. l Cover with aluminium foil and roast until cooked through and tender (about 3 hours). l Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of cooking to brown the top. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Outdoors Special

BBQ Short Ribs

Grilled Shrimp with Garlic & Lemon

Ingredients l Extra-virgin olive oil - 1/4 cup l Garlic cloves – 6 (thinly sliced) l Celery seed - 1tsp l Crushed red pepper flakes - 1tsp l Whole-grain mustard - 2tbsp l Large easy-peel shrimp – 1kg l Lemons – 2 (1 thinly sliced and 1 halved) l Kosher salt (to taste) l Freshly ground black pepper (to taste) l Chopped fresh chives (for serving) Method l Combine oil, garlic, celery seed, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until garlic is golden, sizzling, and fragrant (2 to 4 minutes). l Whisk in mustard and transfer to a bowl. Let it cool completely. l Add shrimp and sliced lemon to oil mixture. Season with salt and black pepper and toss to coat. l Refrigerate at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. l Heat grill to medium-high. Grill shrimp and lemon slices until lemons and shrimp are lightly charred and shrimp are just cooked through (1 to 3 minutes per side). l To serve, transfer to a platter, sprinkle with chives, and squeeze lemon halves over top.

November 2016

at HOME

Home Clean

Home

Take the stress out of unpacking and arranging things in your new home with a few tried and tested cleaning tips

oving to a new home? Clean it up in 4 easy steps as shown by experts from Helpling.ae, the online marketplace for household services in the Middle East.

1. Organisation starts with the move out

Paying attention when packing your boxes will help you to organise your move. While packing your things, always consider what you want in each room so you won’t mix items from one room in other rooms’ boxes; it will help you to organise the unpacking. Also, labelling boxes will make your work a lot easier.

2. Plan your cleaning spree

Even if the previous owner has cleaned the place, you won’t really know how well it has been done. The house might look clean, but most people usually just clean away the dust and don’t sterilise all surfaces or pay attention to details. Before getting

November 2016

into the cleaning mode, planning how to clean is key. You need to think about the rooms and plan - for example, which rooms to start with, the size, the level of ‘dirtiness’, etc. Then, estimate the hours or minutes you want to spend in each room and the sequence. A great tip would be to start with the bedroom and kitchen, as you will need to use them right away.

3. Cleaning tips

Start cleaning the rooms from top to bottom - never the opposite. Don’t start in the middle of the room - start with one corner and go round to ensure that you won’t miss anything. An obvious tip is to make sure that you have enough space to clean the room. If it’s full of boxes, for example, the cleaning will be demanding and not effective. Always finish cleaning a room before moving on to the next one, so you can see the results of your work and be more motivated to clean

the next. Also, unpack and organise the room as soon as you are done with cleaning, so you have a better overview and less boxes.

4. Attention to details

Pay attention to details. If you don’t clean every corner when moving in, it is likely that you will postpone the cleaning forever, until you get used to it. After you set all your furniture in place, it will be twice as hard to manoeuvre around the corners and clean the hard-to-reach areas. Give special care to cleaning door knobs, window handles, switches, faucets, etc. These places are highly contaminated, as everyone touches them all the time; but they are quite often overlooked when cleaning. Also, pay attention to the areas between the tiles, sometimes they have mould and they need to be cleaned to avoid it from spreading. Pipes are often covered with dust and dirt, so worth an effort to clean them up too

at HOME

Host a perfect get-together with

Danube Home Adel Sajan, Director of Danube Group, presents tips and guidelines to help you organise a sophisticated soiree

Plan a theme: The theme, for your dinner, could be a ‘traditional’ one, where guests can be requested to come dressed in clothes that are typical of their culture. This is particularly interesting when your guest list has an interesting mix of people from different nationalities; it could help people start conversations and discover more about each other. The theme could extend to the décor - you could have Oriental curtains, Turkish lamps, ornate candle stands, bric-a-brac, comfortable floor cushions and carpets with Arabic motifs. Warm colours are particularly recommended. You can also pick your music list to represent the theme. Focus on your table setting:

The table setting can make all the difference, especially when you are hosting a buffet-style dinner. A pretty centrepiece can add to the atmosphere - you could choose something that matches the room or goes with a theme that fits the occasion; you could decorate the table with a pretty tablecloth, fresh flowers in a beautiful vase, and a bowl of fresh fruits or even an elaborate sculpture or objet d’art. Planning a table in advance will also help you anticipate the requirements of your guests, as well as the meal itself by laying out the proper flatware, silverware, crystal ware and condiments in advance. Remember, an interesting setting will not only impress your guests, it will also express your creativity.

Adel Sajan

A great spread: Food can make

or break a good dinner party; make sure you plan in advance. A mix of light as well as heavy dishes, such as traditional salads and soups, along with rice, meat and vegetable preparations that are more elaborate, are ideal. Ensure that you have a variety of pre-cooked snacks such as samosas or kebabs in case you are short on time or don’t have help to prepare the entire meal.

selection of games to keep guests entertained; you can organise some live music, play dumb charades, or even play cards. If you have invited children, ensure that they are kept occupied with puzzles or games. You can engage someone to read fairy tales to them as well. This will ensure that they aren’t running around the place and creating a ruckus

Don’t pack the buffet table with too much. Sometimes, a few great dishes are far better than too many average ones. Keep the tastes of your guests in mind; some could have allergies, prefer vegetarian food or have problems with spicy food. Include a few dishes to meet their requirement.

Organise activities: Pick

an area or room that you can dedicate for entertainment. Add elements such as floor lamps, rugs, cushions, candles and other decorations to make the area warm and comfortable. Have a

November 2016

Relatively SPEAKING

Create Family Traditions Before the countdown to the New Year reaches a crescendo, get your family together to create traditions that can uphold the bonds and establish that fairytale ‘foreverness’

t’s the season to be merry. A time to add anecdotes and pictures to the ‘memory’ kitty and rekindle all the good times.

So come along and find ways to multiply the joys and strengthen the bonds with traditions that are novel and are exclusive to your family. The tradition or ritual you pick as a family could be big or small, but should do its task in providing a source of identity and offer comfort and security while strengthening the bonds. As Meg Cox, author or ‘The Book of New Family Traditions’ defined, it is any activity that is ‘purposefully repeated together as a family with heightened attentiveness and something extra, that lifts it above the ordinary ruts’.

Here are some ideas to get you going: Time capsule

As you get set to begin the New Year, make every member of the family contribute his/her favourite things – it could be pictures, notes and/or personal items – into a box that could be collectively sealed with the plan to open it on an important date in the coming years.

Dinner theme

Have a specific meal day, either once a week or a month; it could be a pizza night on Friday or dining out on first Saturday of the month whichever is convenient for all the members.

Camp out

If you have a backyard, this would be a perfect winter tradition to uphold. But you could create a tented atmosphere in your living room, with blankets and ropes and experience the joys of camping with stories and shadow play.

Movie night

Dedicate a day every week or at least once a month to indulge in movie watching. Let every member of the family get a chance to choose the movie for everyone to watch.

November 2016

Relatively SPEAKING Story telling

Bedtime stories have a special family connect. Turn it into an everyday event or a special weekend treat to continue as a tradition that keeps strengthening the bonds of family.

Cook with kids

Digital detox

You could either cook up a meal with the kids or have them take over your kitchen, depending on their ages. Let them decide what to cook and what they would need to put up a meal for the family.

Family walks

Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like more bedtime on a weekendâ&#x20AC;Ś? Begin the weekend on a family note by spending it in bed with the family, even if it is for half an hour. Early morning blissful hours together could be a great conversation starter.

Resolve to switch off from all things digital, once a month or so, whether you are at home or on a holiday, earning some alone family time, away from the distractions of the television or Internet. Although your family walk is more about creating a special time together than about fitness, children are sure to accept it as a fun activity, one that helps to create a routine and also open up avenues to chat with children about health and nature, or simply their opinions about things they see and feel.

Lazy weekends

Countdown to New Year

As you turn the calendar to the last month of the year, find a craft idea to count the days to the New Year or the Christmas, whichever you follow more enthusiastically. You could keep adding to the countdown board with trinkets or candies.

Picture speak

Start a picture tradition by choosing your own special location and costume, which is repeated year after year without altering any of the details first captured. You will soon have an archive of images that show you and your family at different ages.

Weekly meetings

Initiate a weekly family meeting and forget work, stress and all that comes with earning for the household. You could make it very official with the proceedings reminiscent of a board meeting, wherein every member is required to talk about the week that was, or turn it very informal without any predetermined questions.

November 2016

man date

Bulk up and Build Muscle Find out how to bulk up and build muscles without acquiring a fat belly in the bargain

ules of bodybuilding: bulk up to build muscles or cut down to lose fat! As simple as that.

But the ‘bulk up’ required for building those muscles is all about keeping the fat gains to an absolute minimum and ensuring that it doesn’t creep up in areas like the belly. The stress here is on doing it the right way, so that you do not, unintentionally, gain excess body fat in the process of bulking up or lose lean muscles while cutting it out. Basically, what you need to understand, before getting down to the body building exercise, is that your ability to gain muscles will not be hastened by consuming more foods after a certain point in your life. Also, your body cannot build more than a few pounds of muscles in a month - whatever be your endeavour in that direction.

November 2016

The biggest myth is that you can eat whatever you want when you are bulking. In fact, you should not get into any bulking regimen if you are already fat. For if you are fatter, and have higher body fat percentage, your calorie partitioning will get poorer, and, consequently, your body will start storing excess calories as fat instead of muscle. It is best to cut down and lose fat first. Muscle building phase should be ideally initiated when you are in the ‘somewhat’ lean category; this typically means 10 to 13 per cent or less of body fat. Once you reach this stage, you could start a full-scale bulking up routine, creating caloric surplus to abet your need to build new muscle. Once you determine whether you should bulk or cut first, get your diet requirements chalked out and your workout regime fixed.

man date Clean bulk

The objective should be to go on what is referred to as the ‘clean bulk’ diet. Keep it simple and you will not go wrong.

Nutrition

Consume enough nutrients to ensure that your body is in an optimal muscle-building state. If you don’t eat enough, you might lose muscle mass and the muscle growth might get delayed. The amount of muscles you can build is said to be dependent on your body’s capacity to synthesise new muscle tissue from the proteins. This creates a cause and effect chain: the body’s protein synthesis capacity depends on the natural testosterone levels and the testosterone to cortisol ratio, insulin sensitivity, muscle fibre makeup and also the genetics. Your optimal intake of protein, the building blocks of muscle growth, should be one gram of protein per pound of body weight. Keep the fats constant at 25 percent of the calories and let the carbs fill the remaining calories. Protein (lean meat, fish and seafood, eggs and protein powder) is the main ingredient of muscle tissue; carbohydrates (potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice and fruits) help

boost workouts and prevent muscle breakdown, and fats (avocado, nuts, seeds, oils, including olive and coconut) support hormones like testosterone that help muscles grow.

Interestingly, consuming your carbs and calories at night is known to boost muscle growth in two ways, not forgetting the ease of following the diet:

Grains like oats and wheat may not be ideal as they are difficult to digest for many and are known to cause bloating. Green vegetables are best eaten raw, but they have very low caloric value and so cannot add to your calorie intake.

Calories

Eating the right number of calories is essential. The idea should be to reach your calorie requirement - use a moderate surplus so that the fat gain is not excess. If your metabolism is fast and you tend to burn calories quickly, ensure that you have 5 to 6 calorie-rich meals a day with a gap of 2 to 3 hours, so that your body is constantly provided with something to metabolise and build muscles. Bulking, obviously, is not about eating whatever you want. You have to make good food choices and that means eating the right calories. Get your bulk from meats, veggies, healthy fats and good starches like potatoes and rice; avoid refined oils.

Eating good carbs, proteins and fats at night maximises your muscle-building hormones. It calms your blood sugar and prevents insulin spikes and crashes; combined with a welldesigned workout, it will optimise your fat burn throughout the day.

Training

Keep your focus on building muscles. Fat-loss workouts are best left for the cutting phase. For size, focus on hypertrophy; for strength, lift heavy weights with low reps.

Assess and recheck

Check your body fat and circumference measurements every few weeks to see if you maintained the clean bulk strategy. Accordingly, add more calories (if you lost weight or remained stagnant) or reduce (if you gained extra fat) and get set on your body building course...

November 2016

Bank Muscat Chip and PIN debit card distribution

Bank Muscat has stepped up the distribution of Chip and PIN debit cards to customers across the Sultanate. The initiative, heralding the future cards in Oman, is in line with the Omani government’s ambitious eGovernment project. In view of the nation-wide transition to Chip and PIN debit cards, the bank has made extensive arrangements to ensure that all customers receive the new cards. The bank has already communicated to customers through SMS, informing them of the requirement to replace their old debit cards with the new Chip and PIN cards. Customers are required to visit the branches and collect the new cards. Packed with an array of features and benefits, the new Chip and PIN debit card is designed to make everyday transactions easier within and outside Oman.

Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre

A one-of-a-kind edutainment centre – Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre – has transformed Barr Al Jissah heritage village into Oman’s must visit destination. Al Mazaar will offer a dynamic programme of kid’s entertainment, sports activities, art, culture and much more for adults and children alike to enjoy. It will be home to Springbox, Oman’s first ever trampoline hall with sports activities. Art Box will encourage children to create their own masterpieces while visitors can also get involved arts and crafts workshops. Designated art walls, including the Hands of Oman centrepiece, Omani Orchard wall, Rainbow Jigsaw wall, You Create wall, Chalk wall and World United wall further encourage interactive art.

Oman Air launches non-stop flights to Guangzhou

Oman Air will start operating flights from its hub in Muscat to Guangzhou, China, from December 9th. Guangzhou is Oman Air’s first destination in China. The launch of the new route, in response to significant customer demand, also demonstrates Oman Air’s commitment to continuing it ambitious network expansion programme, first unveiled in 2014. The new destination opens up easy access to Oman Air’s outstanding range of choices for customers from China, in addition, the flights will further help to strengthen political, economic and social links between Oman and China. Oman Air will run flights to Guangzhou from Muscat on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using its wide-body A330.

#ThisIsMySuperdry This season, iconic brand Superdry will celebrate the diversity of their product offering by collaborating with ambassadors across the music, sports, style and snow sports worlds to unite an inspirational collective of talent. The ambassadors from across the globe will share their inspirational stories and how they wear their favourite Superdry pieces when achieving their goals. The campaign will live across the brand’s channels, both on- and offline, whilst fans, customers and followers alike are also invited to join the #MySuperdry collective by sharing their unique Superdry moments using the hashtag; each month, the brand will pick lucky prize winners. The campaign was launched at the Superdry Store in Oman Avenues Mall with a meet and greet event, featuring local influencers, on November 30.

November 2016

MRM offers for winter vacationers

Welcoming vacationers for the perfect wintry getaway, Millennium Resort Mussanah (MRM) unveiled new package offers and activities designed to give guests a one-of-a-kind Omani winter experience. Lasting till the 30th of April 2017, the new offers will allow visitors to enjoy the scenic Batinah coast and all of the resort’s attractions for lower rates. Starting at RO49, the offer provides guests with a one-night stay, dinner and breakfast for two. Children below 12 years old are included for free and will have the same meal plan and sharing bed with their parents. The resort is also introducing a RO10 day pass that includes access to a full-range of its in-house and outdoor facilities.

Max ‘Fashion for Real People’ Campaign

Max has announced the second chapter of its award winning ‘Fashion for Real People’ brand campaign. The campaign champions the need of every individual to discover, embrace and express his or her own unique style statement. The new phase celebrates the innate sense of style that all real people possess and aims to inspire millions more to accept their distinctive personality. In the first phase of ‘Fashion for Real People’ campaign, Max joined forces with Arab youth icon, Mohammed Assaf. The second phase of the campaign portrays different facets of Mohammed Assaf’s daily life. Photographed in a natural setting, the images capture him in a library, at a studio and in the gym.

Muriya launches Golf Lake Residences in Jebel Sifah

Muriya has announced the launch of Golf Lake Residences, a premium residential neighbourhood in Jebel Sifah, comprised of 14 buildings and 118 freehold studios, oneand two-bedroom apartments. Overlooking the largest two holes of the 9-hole Harradine golf course, which is in its final stage of development, each of the apartments will include breath-taking views of the expertly designed golf course, along with views of the sparkling Arabian Sea or the majestic Al Hajar Mountains. Homeowners will enjoy exclusive leisure amenities including an oasis style water feature including an integrated infinity pool. Muriya is partnering with the internationally renowned real estate agency Savills as the lead selling agent for Golf Lake Residences.

Shell Oman inaugurates deli CAFÉ

The new deli CAFÉ, which is Shell Oman Marketing Company’s foray into the branded coffee business, recently took off when the new deli CAFÉ at Mawaleh South Shell Service Station was inaugurated by Asada Harinsuit, Shell Vice President of the Retail Business in the East Region, in the presence of Mohammed Mahmood Al Balushi, CEO of Shell Oman, as well as other Shell representatives. deli CAFÉ features a range of hand-crafted hot and cold beverages by coffee baristas, fresh sandwiches by deli chefs and pastries with in-house baking facilities. Customers have access to free wi-fi, mobile phone charging stations and added drive-through for the convenience of customers on the move.

November 2016

Autumn/Winter Collection at Mamas and Papas Telal Al Qurm Real Estate opens sales of new townhouses Telal Al Qurm Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the Kuwait-based Alargan International Real Estate Company, recently held a media tour of the townhouses component of the Telal Al Qurm community, the fourth component of the overall project currently under development. Held at the newly launched model townhouse, guests were given a tour of the layout and design of the new 46 townhouses that the company has started constructing as part of the Telal Al Qurm community, a residential and commercial district consisting of 164,900 square meters of land in the popular Qurm area. The townhouses will consist of two rows of 23 townhouses each, in addition to a Community Clubhouse facing a 2,500 square-meter park and recreational amenities including a gymnasium and swimming pool.

It is all about the ‘new’ at Mamas and Papas this season. The Autumn/Winter collection fuses the contemporary and the heritage, encompassing three new ranges – Welcome to the World, Everyday Special and Occasionwear. For Autumn/Winter 2016, Mamas and Papas are showcasing a new Everyday Special range. An eclectic mix of outfits you can build and pair up, with chunky knitwear, cord fabrics and soft jersey outfits in rich autumnal tones. The Occasionwear range is all about luxury outfits for those exceptional moments.

National Day Celebrations at Aster Al Raffah Hospital

Aster Al-Raffah Hospital commemorated the Oman National Day by holding a celebratory event at the hospital’s premises. The event was open to people of all ages and nationalities who were keen to join Aster Al-Raffah’s employees and senior management in paying homage to the Omani National Day. The function included a host of fun filled activities and games that kept the audience engaged throughout the day. There were a series of videos that succinctly captured the rich and vibrant history of Oman and commended the work of all the dedicated employees of Aster Al Raffah Hospital.

‘Colours of Arabia’ from Berger Paints

‘Colours of Arabia’, a unique CSR campaign by Berger Paints that cuts across boundaries and puts the spotlight on the beauty of the region as well as relationships, was unveiled at a press conference recently. The narrative of the campaign captures the beautiful relationship between a grandfather and his visually impaired granddaughter as he tries to decipher colours for her through emotions she can experience and comprehend. The 12 short films capture the journey of the two across the Middle East, each featuring a distinct landmark and geographical landscapes ranging through deserts, wadis, creeks and beaches.

November 2016

The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé

Mercedes-Benz first mid-size sport utility coupé, the all-new GLC Coupé, is here and ready to impress with its powerful design of an SUV and the dynamic stylistic elements of a coupé. With a standardfit sports suspension as well as more direct sports steering, Dynamic Select and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive with 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission, the allnew GLC Coupé is among the sportiest of the Mercedes Benz SUVs. Combining effortless comfort with sporty agility, the distinct sportiness and dynamism of the all-new GLC Coupé is enriched with high safety and stateof-the-art assistance systems. The new GLC Coupé is currently available in the petrol model GLC 250 4MATIC Coupé with 155 kW (211hp). The other three models - GLC 300 4MATIC Coupé with 180 kW (245hp), the powerful top-of-the-line Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé with 270 kW (367hp) and the plug-in hybrid GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé - will be launched in 2017.

The All New 2017 Chevrolet Malibu

Offering impressive safety, exceptional efficiency and seamless connectivity, Malibu is thoughtfully engineered with everything a driver expects, and more. Windswept bodylines and an agile stance give this midsize car a sleek look while helping to provide a surprisingly sporty ride. And with bright and eye-catching available LED daytime running lamps and available LED tail lamps, Malibu offers the perfect blend of form and function. It comes with a comprehensive air bag sensing system that will deploy air bags in a collision from any direction. In the event of an impact, a highstrength steel safety cage provides impressive protection. With the available Chevrolet MyLink display, Malibu offers more advanced ways to connect. (OTE Group is the exclusive distributor for Chevrolet in the Sultanate of Oman.)

2017 Infiniti Q50 sports sedan unveiled in Oman

Infiniti Oman unveiled the new 2017 Infiniti Q50 sports sedan with a number of performance and dynamic upgrades that deliver a more empowering and rewarding drive experience. The comprehensive updates include nextgeneration ride and handling technologies while two new powertrains are introduced to the range, featuring two advanced turbocharged V6 engines. The new Q50 also receives an upgrade with the company’s second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering, comprehensively modified from the daring and groundbreaking first-generation system. Key technological enhancements include; Blind-Spot Warning with Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention with Active Lane Control, Back-up Collision Intervention with Cross Traffic Alert, Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.

November 2016

Chill Out

Movies

MOVIE REVIEW

Director Gareth Edwards

Cast Felicity Jones Diego Luna Ben Mendelsohn Donnie Yen Mads Mikkelsen Alan Tudyk Jiang Wen Forest Whitaker

ND I N G

Closer – Chainsmokers & Halsey

Starboy – Weeknd & Daft Punk

Heathens – Twenty One Pilots

Rogue One: O

CHART TOPPERS

4. Cold Water – Major Lazer, Justin Beiber & M 5. Let Me Love You – DJ Snake & Justin Beiber 6. Broccoli – D.R.A.M. & Lil Yachty

A Star Wars Story

Following the formation of the Galactic Empire, a rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ is an upcoming American epic space opera film written by Chris Weitz, Tony Gilroy, and Gary Whitta, from a story idea by visual effects supervisor John Knoll. It will be the first stand-alone Star Wars Anthology film.

7. Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes

It is set in the Star Wars universe, some time after the events of Star Wars: Episode III

8. I Hate U, I Love U – Gnash & Olivia O’Brien

– Revenge of the Sith and shortly before the events of the original Star Wars. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans

9. Sucker For Pain – Lil Wayne… 10. Cheap Thrills - Sia

to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

November 2016

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget UPCOMING RELEASES

Assassin’s Creed Passengers Fences

Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Mykelti Williamson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson Fences is an American-Canadian drama film directed by Denzel Washington and written by August Wilson, based on his play of the same name. The movie tells the story of a onetime promising baseball player, now working as a Pittsburgh garbage collector, and the complicated relationships with his wife, son and friends. Fences explores the evolving AfricanAmerican experience and examines race relations, among other themes.

BOOK REVIEW

Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves, Andy Garcia On a routine journey through space to a new home, two passengers - Jim (Chris Pratt) and Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) - sleeping in suspended animation, are awakened 90 years too early when their ship malfunctions. They have to face living the rest of their lives on board, with every luxury they could ever ask for, and they begin to fall for each other, unable to deny their intense attraction. Soon they discover the ship in grave danger. With the lives of 5000 sleeping passengers at stake, only Jim and Aurora can save them all.

Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Essie Davis Assassin’s Creed is based on the video game franchise of the same name. The film is set in the same universe as the video games but features an original story that expands the series’ mythology. In the movie, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender), through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar and discovers that he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organisation in the present day.

To Build a Fire and Other Stories

Author: Jack London This book brings together twenty-five of London’s finest stories, including his great Klondike stories, vivid tales of the Far North were rugged individuals, such as the Malemute Kid face the violence of man and nature during the Gold Rush Days. Along with the author’s famous wilderness adventures and desperadoes, are portraits of the workingman, the immigrant, and the exotic outcast, in tales that have been acclaimed throughout the world as some of the most thrilling short stories ever written.

Wind, Sand and Stars The Old Man and the Sea

Author: Ernest Hemingway The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of an old Cuban fisherman and his relentless, agonising battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. The story opens with Santiago having gone 84 days without catching a fish, and now being seen as ‘salao’, the worst form of unluckiness. It weaves together the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic.

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Translator: Lewis Galantière In this autobiographical work, SaintExupéry, an early pioneering aviator, evokes a series of events in his life. He recounts several episodes from his years flying treacherous mail routes across the African Sahara and the South American Andes. It’s an exciting account of air adventure, combined with lyrical prose and the spirit of a philosopher; it illustrates the author’s view of the world and his opinions of what makes life worth living.

November 2016

Chill Out

Movies

WEB WORLD

Chill outdoors It’s the season to make merry outdoors…

ring out the beach toys; dust the camping gear and the fishing equipment…and get set to make your weekends special in the coming months.With summer finally making its exit, its time to make the most of the pleasant season with outdoor activities that spell fun and excitement for everyone at home. Check out http://www.parents. com/fun/activities/outdoor/ for some interesting ideas to get the outdoor session started. Although the activities listed have a summer feel to them, keeping to the seasonal moods in countries around the world, the fun games are easy to adapt and indulge in, provided the weather gods stay appeased. Whether it is activities and crafts to do with all the family or go camping out, the online resource is packed with details that help initiate even something as novel as watching a movie in the backyard while lying on the beanbag or in a sleeping bag.

A sub-link with camping tips opens up to a detailed list of dos and don’ts when camping with young’uns for the first time. It provides guidelines on how to build a campfire and tips to cook up a breakfast. A separate section on campfire food and games will offer a host of tips on grilling and cooking up easy appetisers. There is more for those seeking to go camping in the backyard.

Riddle Time

1 2 3 4 5 66

What do you call an alligator in a vest? What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish? What do you call a baby monkey? What do lawyers wear to court? What kind of jokes do you make in the shower?

November 2016

And if beach is on your weekend itinerary, checkout the steps involved in building sand castles. Enjoy the season…

Riddle Time Answers (October 2016)

What do you call sad coffee? Answer: Despresso. What’s the first bet that most people make in their lives? Answer: The alpha bet. How do you organise a space party? Answer: You planet!. Why did the man put his money in the freezer? Answer: He wanted cold hard cash! What do you call a bee that lives in America? Answer: USB

2 3 4 5

Book

s Gadget Riddle Web World Horoscope Trivia Books Gadget GADGET NOTES Virtual 60-Game Pinball Arcade

Big news for gamers… The Virtual 60-Game Pinball Arcade lets you enjoy many games on a single machine. The arcade cabinet comes with more than 60 different kinds of virtual pinball. It is available as a Hammacher Schlemmer exclusive, where the machine delivers a library of pre-installed virtual pinball games. The Virtual 60-Game Pinball Arcade comes with a 32” LED playfield that will be able to reproduce the hallmarks of a classic pinball cabinet, complete with the details of their mechanical predecessors while offering razor-sharp 1080p high-definition. It is also able to download a further 60 classic arcade games.

‘Digital life’ initiative to create 3-D models

An initiative from scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who created the Beastcam Array, a rapid-capture, field portable tabletop system for making highresolution, full-colour 3D models of living organisms, could soon lead to the creation of 3-D models of all living organisms. The team has created a new multimedia platform they call ‘Digital Life’. Small animals placed in the Beastcam Array’s centre can be quickly and conveniently modelled in 3D by the cameras, aided by software. In coming months, scientists hope to create 3D models of two groups facing significant survival threats: frogs and sea turtles.

Surviving the first 72 hours

If you have heard about the crucial 72 hours in the wake of emergency, you would want to pick up the new Seventy2 survival kit. Reports have shown that people who are better equipped in the event of a disaster, in the first 72 hours, have a higher chance of survival or are at least able to hold on until the arrival of rescue team. Uncharted Supply Co. has, recently, unveiled the aptly named Seventy2, which is said to be the first fully integrated survival system that has been specially designed to safely navigate the first 72-hours of any emergency. It is packed with 30 high-quality products and tools that have been designed to work in tandem, ranging from a crank battery charger that also functions as a flashlight to a selection of supplies.

Now a driverless scooter

Get ready to welcome autonomous scooters. A team from MIT has developed a self-driving mobility scooter using algorithms that not only allow users to sit back and enjoy the ride, but also ßto swap from scooters for moving inside buildings to golf carts in car parks, to autonomous cars on the road. The setup makes it easier to verify if the various layers are working properly, is less complex, and there’s no need to keep reinventing systems for different vehicles. Data can be easily transferred from one vehicle to another and, because the algorithms interact with the environment in different vehicles.

Bites

me what you see.” Watson replied: “I see millions and millions of stars.” Holmes said: “And what do you deduce from that?”

One day, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went camping. They pitched their tent under the stars and went off to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night Holmes woke Watson up and said: “Watson, look up at the stars, and tell

like Earth out there, there might also be life.” Holmes retorted: “Watson, you idiot, it means that somebody stole our tent.”

Watson replied: “Well, if there are millions of stars, and if even a few of those have planets, it’s quite likely there are some planets like Earth out there. And if there are a few planets

November 2016

Chill Out December 2016

Movies

FUTURESCOPE

Sagittarius

(November 21 – December 21) You are still very much in a happy period and it is obvious in your personal appearance. You exude star quality and there is an element of unbridled optimism about you this month. Prosperity is in the offing with earnings increasing and financial windfalls happening. Health is very good this month and it is apparent that you have all the energy you need to achieve whatever you want to achieve. Your career goals, at least the short term ones, have been mostly attained and now it is time to begin to focus on the family, the home and your emotional wellness.

Aries

Career is the main focus of the month. Fortunately, there are no obstacles that you cannot overcome. Your yearly career peak will begin later this month. You are working hard and there is bound to be success, but your health needs some attention. But this is temporary phase and your health will improve by next month. Travel plans seem unstable.

Taurus

The month ahead looks successful on your career front. You seem to be very motivated career-wise. Remember, however, that personal appearance and overall demeanour is very important in your career. Your excellent work ethics will be brought to the attention of your superiors. Health is much improved and finances also look good this month.

Gemini

Your love and social life is still strong this month. You are in a yearly love and social peak and that makes this a socially active month. Finances may not seem to be a big issue this month. This is a month to clear

Jay Z

the mind of negative thoughts and habit patterns. It will help bring about subtle improvements in your outer affairs and conditions.

Cancer

The month ahead is a matter of others and their needs. People will notice you as unselfish, putting others ahead of yourself, but don’t fret as it is the cycle you are in and will pass shortly. Now is not the time to make adjustments, so plan the changes that need to be done and it will be easier to implement them.

Leo

Health and energy are great this month – so is love. Many of you are scheduled to travel during the early part of the month and life is, generally, good. Though your health is good, you would help to keep things that way by involving yourself in everyday health regimes. For those seeking jobs, this is a critical period.

Virgo

Maintain the focus on your home, family and your personal emotional wellness. If you are involved in psychological kinds of therapy, look forward to making satisfactory progress this month. You will find that psychological breakthroughs are happening. You are, however, more moody than usual during this period.

Libra

The month ahead is about home, family and emotional wellness. You might find yourself thinking of the past and of previous experiences. Dreams of forgotten experiences could happen. But don’t worry, through this, healing will happen. Health needs attention and the crucial thing is to have enough rest.

(December 4, 1969) Rapper Jay Z became an international success after his first hit ‘Dead Presidents’. He has since won 19 Grammy Awards and sold over 75 million albums worldwide. His albums ‘Reasonable Doubt’, ‘The Blueprint’, and ‘The Black Album’ were all featured on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. His interest in creating music can be traced back to the time he received a boom box from his mother on his 12th birthday. His nickname evolved from ‘Jazzy’ to ‘Jay-Z’.

November 2016

Scorpio

You are in an exceptional time for starting a new project, venture or even launching a new product. Your yearly financial peak continues from the last month. Although there are financial challenges, prosperity is happening. The month ahead is more home, family and emotional wellness than it is about the career. But career success is on the agenda.

Capricorn

Look forward to a happy month ahead, Capricorn. It is a month for spiritual breakthroughs and spiritual experiences. You are in a yearly personal pleasure peak. This is a month to pamper the body and take advantage of the physical delights of life. Finances are very good during this month.

Aquarius

You are doing everything you love. You are surrounded by friends and your strong networking abilities are getting stronger. Your technology skills are also stronger. Love still awaits singles in the online world and as they are involved with groups and group activities. Health is considerably improved this month.

Pisces

Your love interests are carrying you outside your normal sphere. You are taking risks and going beyond your comfort zone. Perhaps it is the spouse, partner or current lover who is pulling you out here. You also seem involved with people who are much above you in status, and sometimes this can be uncomfortable. Career continues being going strong.

Book

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WEIRD NEWS Ring in the carrot patch

A German widower got an unexpected surprise from beyond as he was tending his carrot patch. The 82-year-old retiree had lost his gold wedding band around three years ago. It was during a routine gardening session that he unearthed the carrot, which was circled by the lost ring. The scene has been described as a bitter sweet moment for the widower who lost his wife six months ago; only recently he’d celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary. His wife had predicted that he would eventually be reunited with his wedding band.

Penguin affairs…

A love triangle featuring penguins in a bloody fight caught the fancy of netizens, recently. Footage of the angry hubby penguin returning home to find his partner with another male penguin leading to a violent fight has gone viral. National Geographic Wild’s hit series ‘Animal Fight Night’ featured the clipping titled ‘Homewrecking Penguin’.

Photobombed by a phantom?

Ghost hunters got a taste of their medicine when they found their group picture photobombed by what appears to be a phantom image. It was when the group leader posted the picture on Facebook that people started commenting that they could see an eerie corpse-like face of a woman. The 32-strong ghost-hunting team got together for a photograph in the old dining room at Newsham Park Hospital in Liverpool, Merseyside, ahead of an expedition.

Out & About If camping is on your mind, these little facts could put you in the right frame of mind l

Mice have soft skulls and can squeeze through incredibly small spaces. So, zip up your tent at night; a mouse can get in if there are holes bigger than a ballpoint pen.

Cricket chirp can help you gauge the temperature. Count the number of chirps in 14 seconds and add 40 for the temperature in Fahrenheit.

Mosquitoes can smell the carbon dioxide in a human’s breath from over 100 feet away.

There are more insects on one square mile of land than there are humans on the face of the earth.

Gas stoves, charcoal grills and other fuel-burning devices can cause dangerous build-ups of carbon monoxide. Even if you are not using them, do not keep them in the tent.

Wildfires move quickly – they can reach speeds of 14 miles per hour.

If you want to kill fish, do not rely on ice water as a humane way to do it. According to Australia’s RSPCA, the most humane way to kill fish is to strike them in the head with a blunt instrument or to spike the fish.

Hardwoods do not spark - seasoned hardwoods are ideal for campfires.

The Mannequin Challenge

The Mannequin Challenge, a slightly quirky take on the classic ‘statue’ game, is trending in American schools. The Challenge requires participants to adopt a variety of ‘action’ poses, and then stand perfectly still while someone with a camera walks around filming the strange scenes. And the results are almost eerie, showing school kids high-fiving, fighting, and even just simply frozen while walking. Teachers are also seen getting involved, pretending to chat with pupils in school corridors.

November 2016

Airlines

SEARCHING

Airlines Emergency Cinema Beauty

Oman on your fingertips

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November 2016

Emergency Hospitals

Al Nahdha Hospital ..................... 24837800 Khoula Hospital........................... 24560455 Muscat Private Hospital .............. 24583600 Royal Hospital ............................. 24599000 Al Raffah Hospital .................. 98294371/70 KIMS Oman Hospital ................... 24760100 Burjeel Medical Centre .............. 22085252

Electricity

Muscat / Muttrah ........................ 24714300 Ruwi ............................................ 24701821 Salalah ........................................ 23219188

Water

General Enquiries ..............................1442 Muttrah ...................................... 24795775 Salalah ....................................... 23290222

Cinema

City Cinema Ruwi ................. 2456 7664/68 City Cinema Al Shatti ........... 2456 7664/68 City Cinema MGM................ 2456 7664/68 City Cinema Sohar ............... 2456 7664/68 Star Cinema ................................ 24791641 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540855 VOX Cinemas - MCC...................22344444

SEARCHING

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Health Clubs

Hotel & Hotel Apartments Muscat Region

Al Bustan Palace Hotel ................ 24799666 Al Bahjah Hotel ........................... 24424400 Al-Khuwayr Hotel Apts ............... 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn ................ 24596400 Al Fanar Hotel ............................. 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel .............................. 24702311 Azaiba Hotel Apartments........................... ................................24490979 / 99424470 Beach Hotel ................................ 24696601 Bowshar Hotel............................. 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat ..................... 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat.................. 24660660 Golden Tulip Seeb...................... 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat .................... 24641234 Haffa House Hotel ....................... 24707207 Holiday Inn Muscat ..................... 24487123 InterContinental Muscat ............. 24680000 Best Western Hotel ..................... 24692121 Majan Continental Hotel ............. 24592900 Marina Hotel ............................... 24711711 Mina Hotel .................................. 24711828 Muttrah Hotel .............................. 24798401 Nuzha Hotel Apts ........................ 24789199 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240 Park Inn ...................................... 24507888 Qurm Beach House Hotel ........... 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat.......... 24487777 Ramada Qurm Beach .................. 24603555 Ramee Guestline Hotel ............... 24564443 Ramee Dream Resort .................. 24453399 Ruwi Hotel .................................. 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites...................... 24691200 Qurum Beach Resort Hotel ......... 24605945 Shangri Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barr Al JissahResort and Spa .....................24776666, 800708102 The Chedi Muscat....................... 24524400 Al Hedayet Int'l Hotel al-khoud, kakoot round about..... 24549945

Al Dhakliya

Nizwa Hotel................................. 25431616 Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel............. 25410500 Adam Motel ................................ 25434975 Al Diyar Hotel ............................. 25412402 Bader Aslam Motel ..................... 25435007 Bahla Hotel ................................. 25420211 Matan Motel ................................ 99062641 Majan Guest House..................... 25431910 Tanoof Guest House.................... 25411601

Al Batinah

Al Nahda Resort & Spa ............... 26883710 Al Wadi Hotel .............................. 26840058 Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Al Suwaiq Hotel .......................... 26862241 Green Oasis Motel ...................... 26846442 Ghurnata Hotel Apartments........ 26844539 Millennium Resort ...................... 26871555 Sohar Beach Hotel ...................... 26841111

Al Sharqiya

Al Ashkara .................................. 25566266 Al Qabil Resthouse ..................... 25581243 Al Raha Tourism Camp ............... 99343851 Al Sharqiya Gardens................... 99332264 Al Sharqiya Sands Hotel ............. 99205112 Al Wasil Camp ............................ 99332264 Desert Safaris ............................. 25593232 Golden Sands Camp................... 99445092 Ibra Hotel.................................... 25571873 Mahoot Hotel .............................. 25504401 Marsa Sur Hotel Apartments....... 25540784 Masirah Motel ............................. 25504401 Ras Al Hadd Beach Hotel ........... 25542031

Musandam

Al Wusta

Ghaftain Rest House ................... 99485881 Ghaba Rest House ...................... 99358639 Haima Motel ............................... 23436061 Qatbit Motel................................ 99085686

Dhofar

Al Hanna Hotel............................ 23290274 Al Jabal Hotel .............................. 23210611 Al Mazyuna Hotel........................ 23293340 Al Nassr Hotel ............................. 23294815 Al Saada Tourism Complex ........ 23225250 Bamasir Hotel ............................. 23293340 Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah ...... 23235333 Darbat Hotel ............................... 23295877 Dhofar Tourist Hotel.................... 23282300 Fanar Hotel & Residences............23276800 Hilton Hotel Salalah .................... 23211234 Haffa House Hotel Salalah........... 23295444 Redan Hotel ................................ 23292255 Salalah Beach Hotel Apts ............ 23235999 Salalah Hotel ............................... 23295332 Samahram Hotel Apts ................. 23295444 Thumrit Tourist Hotel .................. 23279371

SEARCHING

Your Fitness Quotient....

Al Falaj Health Club ........................24702311 Al Majan Hotel ................................24592900 Al Qurum Resort .............................24605945 Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fitness Center ....................24684989 Balance Health & Fitness ...............24564132 Bodylines, Al Sawadi ......................26795545 Body Speak ......................................24765578 Crowne Plaza...................................24660660 Fitbody Gym....................................24601970 Fontana Club Radisson Blu ...........24487777 Future Health Club .........................24600030 Grand Hyatt Club Olympus ...........24641234 Golden Tulip ....................................24510300 Hammer Gym .................................24483399 Horizon Fitness Center ..................24571337 InterContinental Muscat ...............24680000 Muscat Holiday Inn ........................24487123 Samaa Health Club .........................24694892 Qurum Beach Resort Hotel ...........24605945 Crowne Plaza Salalah .....................23235333 Hilton Salalah ..................................23211234 Sohar Beach Resort.........................26841111 Sky Club, Park Inn ..........................24507888 GYM, MRM .....................................26871555

Health Clubs

Al Dhahira

Al Buraimi Hotel.......................... 25652010 Abha Hotel.................................. 25654700 Al Aeilat Hotel Apts .................... 25654330 Al Baraka Oasis Hotel Apts ......... 25650955 Al Dhahira Hotel ......................... 25650492 Al Masah Hotel ........................... 25653007 Al Raha Hotel Apts ...................... 24701898 Al Sharq House Hotel Apts ......... 24702399 Hamasa Hotel.............................. 25651200 Ibri Oasis Hotel........................... 25489955 Nafahat Al Burami Hotel Flats ..... 25654777

Hotel & Hotel Apartments

Khasab Hotel .............................. 26730267 Qada Hotel ................................. 26731664 Isra Hotel Apartments................. 26730562

November 2016

Sports Basketball

Oman Basketball Association .... 24796780

Boating

SEARCHING

Retail Sports

Retail Al Araimi Complex ..................... 24566180 Al Khamis Plaza .......................... 24562791 Al Harthy Complex ..................... 24564481 Al Wadi Commercial Centre ...................... .................................................. 24564782 Alasfoor Plaza ............................. 24564686 Capital Commercial Complex (CCC) ...... .................................................. 24567338 Jawaharat Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shatti Complex ....... 24692113 Khimji Megastore........................ 24708075 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540222 Sabco Center .............................. 24562761

Muscat City Centre

Muscat Grand Mall

Muscat Grand Mall ..................... 22000000

November 2016

Kayaking

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ...... .................................................. 24485663 Rob Gardner ............................... 99239658 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240

Motor Sports

Classes

Rock Climbing

Al Falaj Hotel (Martial Arts, Tennis, ........... Swimming).................................. 24702311 Grand Hyatt Muscat (Aerobics, Ballet, Salsa, Yoga for women) ............... 24641234 InterContinental Muscat (Fitness workouts, Aqua Aerobics, Spin, Pilates+) ... 24680000

Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ........................................ 24485663 Rob Gardner ............................... 99239658

Rugby

Muscat Rugby Club .................... 24604890

Cricket

Running

Cycling

Sailing

Diving & Snorkeling

Al Khuwair ..................96473101, 24601569 Fahad Plaza, Ruwi ....................... 96725845 Muscat City Centre .................................... ..................................96473113, 24558063 Sohar .......................................... 95119656 Salalah ........................................ 23289260

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545

Al Masa Bowling ......................... 24693991 Oman Bowling Centre ................ 24480747 Seeb Novotel .............................. 24510300

Muscat Cycling ........................... 98453580

Centrepoint

Jet Skiing

Bikers Oman ............................... 99556430 Harley Davidson Owners Group ............... .................................................. 99310853 Oman Automobile Association ................. .................................................. 24510239

Bowling

Oman Cricket Club .................... 24703142

Muscat City Centre (Mall) .......... 24558888 Bata (Footwear) ........................... 24558855 Emax (Electronics) ..................... 24558062 Home Centre .............................. 24558063 Max (Fashion) ........................ 24558981/82 Origem (Fashion)........................ 92648542 Oysho (Fashion).......................... 24558865 Rado (Watches) ........... 9776492, 92247101 Salsa (Fashion) ............................ 24558631 Sunglass Hut ............................... 24558869 Zara (Fashion) ............................. 24558887 Zara Home .................................. 24558869

Capital are Yacht club ................. 24737712 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Grand Hyatt Boat House ............. 24641234 Gulf Leisure ................................ 99819005 Marina Bander Al Rowdha .......... 24737288 Ocean Boats Diving and Sea Tours ............ .................................................. 92645889 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107

Ice Skating Centre ...................... 24489492

Euro Divers Oman ...................... 98194444 Desert Adventures ...................... 95201107 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Dimaniyat Diving ........................ 24795545 Global Scuba .............................. 99317518 Gulf Leisure ................................ 24693561 Musandam Extra Divers.............. 99877957 Muscat Divers ............................. 99355671 Muscat Diving and Adventure Cente......... .................................................. 24485663 Ocean Boats Diving and Sea Tours ........... .................................................. 92645889 Muscat Hills Dive Centre ............ 24824240 SEAOMAN, MRM .........................24181400

Golf

Almouj Golf Club........................ 22005990 Ghala Valley Golf Club ............... 24591248 Muscat Hills Golf Club ................ 24510065 Mini Golf, MRM ...........................26871555

Hiking

Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ....... 24485663 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107

Horse Riding

Al Sawadi Beach Resort .............. 26795545 Al Sawahil Horse Riding ............. 95177557 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Qurum Equestrian School........... 99832199

Ice Sports

Muscat Road Runners ................. 24692903 Castaways Sailing Club ............. 24594613 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153

Sport Fishing

Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Grand Hyatt Boathouse ............... 24641234 Gulf Leisure ................................ 99819006 Muscat Diving and Adventure Center ...... .................................................. 24485663 Oman Dive Center...................... 24824240 Marina Bandar Al Rowdha .......... 24737288 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107 Water World Marine ................... 24737438

Squash

Al Falaj Hotel .............................. 24702311 Al Sawadi .................................... 26795545 Crowne Plaza Muscat.................. 24660660 Grand Hyatt Muscat .................... 24641234

Tennis

Oman Tennis Association ........... 24751902

TYC Faces Strip Adverts 2 FINAL.pdf 1 20/04/2016 12:02:30

4 ABC Tourism ............................. 244582663 Adonis Oman Travel & Tours 24693371 Advantage Travel & Tours ........... 95220095 Airborne Travels......................... 24479295 Al Azure Tours .......................... 244565745 Amazing Arabia ..........24701454/99310005 Al Ahlam Tours ......................... 244892612 Al Areesh Wahiba Camp ............ 99317107 Al Daleel Tours ........................... 23296503 Al Ghadeer ................................. 99325441 Al Ghubayra ............................... 24812874 Al Haditha ................................... 24603587 Al Hashar Tourism & Travels ....... 24836100 Al Hasn Araimi Travel ................. 24799966 Al Maskry Tourism & Travels ...... 24595241 Al Naheem .................................. 24478192 Al Noor ....................................... 99318822 Al-Qandeel Travel & Tourism ..... 24643877 Al Raha Tourism Camp ............... 99343851 Al Sawson ................................... 24485637 Arabian Sands Tour Services ...... 24785027 Arabian Sea Safaris..................... 24693223 Arabian Trails ............................. 24475437 Arise Travel and Tour ................. 24605825 AST Tours ....................24571311, 23298085 Bahwan Travel Agencies............. 24797405 Choice Holidays ......................24660364/7 Desert Discovery ........................ 24493232 Desert Thunder........................... 95555153 Eihab Travels .............................. 24683900 Elite Travel & Tourism................. 24485020 Empty Quarter Tours .................. 99387654 Ena Tourism ................................ 23298500 Global Tours ............................... 24484156 Golden Oryx Tours ..................... 24489853 Gulf Leisure ................................ 24693561 Gulf Ventures .............................. 24559985

Kanoo Travel ............................... 24700249 Khasab Travel and Tours............................ 26730464 Kurban Tours & Travel ................ 24699886 Mark Tours .................................. 24782727 Marmul Travel and Tours ............ 24482868 Majan Travel ............................... 24785728 Mezoon Travel ............................ 24796680 Midland Tourism......................... 24566524 Moon Travels ............................. 24793551 Nahar Tourism Oasis .................. 99387654 National Travels & Tourism (NTT) .............. 24660376 Nomad Tours .............................. 95495240 Nomadic Adventures and Tours................. 99336273 NTT Tours............................... 24660378/70 OTTB ........................................... 24789845 Oasis Tours .................24499922, 99440441 Oman Geo Tours......................... 24600914 Oman Discovery ......................... 24706424 Oman National Transport ........... 24490046 Oman World Tourism .................. 99252680 Orient Holidays .......................... 24478902 OUA Travel ................................. 24559900 Premier Tours ............................. 99222620 Rawabi Desert Adventures ......... 95201107 Remal Al Sharqiya Tourism......... 24544525 Rusayl Travel .............................. 24510012 Salalah City Services .................. 23299663 Salalah Tourism........................... 23292289 Sama Al Wasil Tourism Village................... 99604004 Shanfari Travel and Tours ........... 27602710 Sumahram Falcon ....................... 95774166 Sun and Sand Tours .................... 99373928 Sunny Day Tours, Travel & Adventure ........ 24490055 Steps Travel and Tourism............ 24488891 Tour Oman .................................. 24799966 United Tours ............................... 24787448 Zahara Tours ............................... 24400844

SEARCHING

Travel & Tour Operators

November 2016

Faces Strip Adverts 1.pdf 1 25/01/2016 17:53:34

CMY

SEARCHING

5 Arabian Al Deyar ...........................................24603553 Next to Shatti Plaza Al Khanjar ........................................24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Kargeen Café AL Harthy Complex ........................24560531 Centrepoint .................................... 24694048 MQ Complex ...................................24692269

Al Istanbuli ......................................24480900 Next to Rawasco, Al Khuwair

Samar .............................................992RELAX Al Nahda Resort & Spa

Al Reef Al Lebnani ..........................24485775 Al Khuwair, Opp Safeer Bld

Samat (Iranian food) MQ.....................................................99 889394 Qurum............................................... 24605515

Al Tanoor .........................................24776540 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Al Zafran ..........................................26841111 Sohar Beach Hotel Arab World Al Ghubrah ......................................24491734 Ruwi High St. ...................................24798119 Automatic Al Khuwair .......................................24487200 Azaiba...............................................24499981 Bareeq Al Shatti...............................24605735 Qurum..............................................24561500 Seeb ..................................................24424343

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

Beirut Restaurant ............................24568411 Near Qurum Roundabout Bab Idris .................................... 22060075 Oman Avenues Mall 3rd floor Bin Ateeq Al Khuwair .......................................24478225 CBD ..................................................24702727

November 2016

Falafel & More ................................22060065 Risail Complex

Shahrazad ........................................24776565 Al Husn Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Shiraz................................................24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Tarboosh Opp Sabco Centre...........................24565673 Al Ghubrah ......................................24498553 The Arabian Courtyard .................24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Khanjar Omani Cuisine ..........24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort Turkish House .................................24488071 Al Khuwair Ubhar ...............................................24565689 Bareeq Al Shatti Wadi Hadramout Restaurant Al Khuwair ......................................24475282 Al Bahar, MRM ................................26871553

Cafe’s

Al Ahli Cafe ................................ 24424400 Al Bahjah Hotel Al Falaj Coffee Shop ................... 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel Al Fursan ................................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel Al Maha ...................................... 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn Al Makan Café Muscat City Centre ..................... 24545311 Shatti Al Qurum .......................... 24404200 Al Mas......................................... 24491105 Bowsher Hotel Deluxe Atrium Tea Lounge ..................... 24764000 Al Bustan Palace Barista ......................................... 24571531 Sabco Centre Cafe Barbera .............................. 24603505 Near Shatti Cinema, Shatti Al Qurum Café Capuccino .......................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel Café Ceramique ......................... 24566617 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum

Caribou Coffee........................... 24694473 Bareeq Al Shatti

Mood Café Madinat Plaza ............................. 92125639 Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24538752

Casa de Cafe .............................. 24499565 Midan Hotel Suites

Patisserie .................................... 24479344 Risail Complex, Seeb

Colombian Aroma Cafe .............. 24693131 Bareeq Al Shatti

Petit Café .................................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel

Coffee Republic........................ 244703739 Qurum City Centre

Pink Berry................................... 24558113 Muscat City Centre

Costa Coffee Seeb Intnl Airport ....................... 24519734 MQ .............................................. 24692858 Muscat City Center..................... 24535895 Oasis by the Sea ......................... 24605574 Alasfoor Plaza ............................. 24571236 Lulu Bowsher .............................. 24503861 Bareeq Al Shatti .......................... 24692699 MBD ............................................ 24793169

Pooldeck ..................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Chado Tea Lounge..................... 24500773 Oasis By The Sea D’Arcy’s Kitchen Jawaharat A Shatti ....................... 24600234 MQ .............................................. 24699119 Glacier Café Markaz Al Bahja ......................... 24540200 Zakher Mall ................................ 24540391

Café de Lotus.............................. 24560439 Al Khamis Plaza

Gloria Jean's Coffees .................. 24662940 Fun Zone, Qurum, MGM........................................... 22009295

Café G Patisserie ........................ 99531999 Madinat as Sultan Qaboos

Golden Bean Café ..................... 96969645 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum

Café Samaharam......................... 24707207 Haffa House Hotel

Grind Floor ................................. 24487777 Radisson Blu

Café Torque ................................ 24500773 Azaiba

Le Mermaid Café ........................ 24602327 Near Grand Hyatt Muscat

Café Unique................................ 96684686 Ruwi

Majlis al Shams ........................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Richoux cafe .............................. 22005165 Opera Galleria Ground Floor Rumours Cafe ............................. 24692121 Coral Hotel Muscat Second Cup CCC, Qurm ................................. 24566616 Shatti Al-Qurum .......................... 24699951 Bareeq Al Shatti .......................... 24697776 Sirj Tea Lounge ........................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat Shalashil Café ............................ 24498008 Star Hotel Apartments, Ghubra Starbucks Ernst and Young bldg ................. 24567644 Jawaharat A’Shatti ....................... 24601457 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24558861 MQ .............................................. 24699367 Borders, Muscat City Centre....... 24558636 Qurum City Centre ..................... 24470588 Surf Cafe ..................................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Sidewalk Cafe and Deli .............. 24563058 CCC, Qurm Naseem Lounge, MRM .................26871553

6 SEARCHING

Café Vergnano 1882.................... 24692370 Madinat as Sultan Qaboos

Mokha Cafe ................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

Mokha Cafe ................................ 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

November 2016

Far Eastern

SEARCHING

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

Bamboo Kitchen ......................... 96969645 Al Araimi Complex, Qurum China Mood ................................ 24764000 Al Bustan Palace InterContinental - Muscat China Town ................................. 24567974 CCC, Qurm Chinese Durbar .......................... 24486688 Al Khuwair Chinese Garden ......................... 24489414 Al Khuwair, Near Ice Skating Rink Chinese Palace ........................... 99563368 Al Wadi Commercial Centre Pal Meera.................................... 24692368 Shatti Al Qurum Golden Dragon ........................... 24697374 Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Golden Oryx .............................. 24702266 Rex Road Jade Garden................................ 24605945 Al Qurm Resort Magic Wok Muscat City Centre ..................... 24537118 Qurum City Centre ..................... 24470596 Mamasan .................................... 24210452 Marjan Rest. and Pool Bar ........... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat Meji’s Aroy Thai .......................... 99839595 Shatti Al Qurum Palayok ....................................... 24797290 Ruwi High Street, opp. OC Centre & Al Khuwair Shang Thai ................................. 24483083 Al Khuwair slip road Silk Route Chinese & Thai........... 24696967 Al Noor Plaza, Madinat As Sultan Qaboos Royal China ............................... 24571339 Shatti Al Qurum Hot Pot & Grills ........................... 24404291 Bareeq Al Shatti Thai Basil .................................... 24499565 Midan Hotel Suites, Ghubrah The Noodle House ...................... 24558377 Muscat City Centre Tokyo Taro .................................. 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel Wasabi Sushi............................... 24699490 Bareeq Al Shatti Mydan, MRM ...............................26871553

November 2016

Fast Food Chicking Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540200 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24489575 Cold Stone Creamery ................................ 24470614, 95202436 Qurum City Centre Coral Express ............................. 24540200 Markaz Al Bahja Dairy Queen Jawaharat A’Shatti ....................... 24693031 Lulu, Ghubrah ............................. 24504504 Seeb Intnl Airport ....................... 24519468 DQ Grill & Chill .......................... 24693031 Jawaharat A’Shatti Domino’s Pizza ............................ 24479111 Al Khuwair Dunkin’ Donuts Ghala .......................................... 96177967 MQ .............................................. 96177967 Shatti Cinema ............................. 96177967 Gourmet Burger Kitchen............. 24558065 Muscat City Centre Il Gelato Di Bruno ....................... 95275987 Oasis By the Sea Hardees ...................................... 24477774 Al Khuwair, Wattyah, Al Khoud, City Centre One number for all the four stores Hot and Crispy ........................... 24699524 Al Masa Mall, Sarooj Just Falafel................................... 22009922 Muscat Grand Mall KFC ............................................. 24477777 One number for all the 21 stores Ruwi, Qurum, Al Khuwair, MCC, QCC, Lulu Ghubra and Darsait, Near Airport, Azaiba Roundabout

McDonald’s Al Khuwair .................................. 24482046 As Sarooj..................................24691033/4 Muscat City Center..................... 24545773 Book Roundabout ....................... 24421119 Qurm Behind CCC ..................... 24565798 Papa John’s Pizza Lulu, Ghubrah ............................. 24501111 MQ .............................................. 24697220 Qurum ........................................ 24571100 Muscat Intl Airport...................... 24519468 Ruwi ............................................ 24793153 Al Khoudh ................................... 24546516 Penguin Ghubrah ..................................... 24493963 Seeb............................................ 24422004 Sultan Qaboos University ........... 24413144 Pizza Inn Ruwi ............................................ 24784555 Al Araimi Compex, Qurum ......... 24566661 Pizza Muscat Al Khuwair .................................. 24483393 Al Harthy Complex ..................... 24565618 MBD ............................................ 24817715 Pizza Hut ..................................... 24822500 Wadi Kabir, MBD, Rex Road, Qurum, CCC, QCC, MSQ, Al Khuwair, Ghala, Bowsher, Ghoubra, Airport, Al Khoud, Mawallah, Mabella, Barka Subway Oman Oil, Qurum Jabal .............. 24666704 Al Khuwair .................................. 24593963 Al Masa Mall ............................... 24604664 CCC............................................ 24560327 MQ .............................................. 24694774 Muscat City Centre ..................... 24558080 Wally’s Markaz Al Bahja .......................... 24540200 Al Masa Mall ............................... 24543154 Al Khuwair .................................. 24502929

Indian Annapoorna ............................... 24810396 MBD Biryani House ............................. 24488478 Al Khuwayr Copper Chimney........................ 24780207 CBD Curry House ............................... 24564033 Wattayah Daawat ........................................ 24787980 Ruwi Divine ......................................... 24705070 Ruwi Dosteen Restaurant ..................... 24622850 Seeb

Omar Al Khayyam Restaurant .................... Ruwi ..........................24703035/ 24707082 Al Khoudh ..................24535001/ 24539718 Passage To India ......................... 24568480 Behind Hatat House Princess ...................................... 24482213 Al Khuwair Punjabi Dhaba ............................ 91000603 Wadi Kabir Sagar .......................................... 24794114 Ruwi Saravanaa Bhavan ................ 24704502 / 07 Near Ruwi Roundabout Sayujya Restaurant...................... 24816909 MBD

Horizon Restaurant ..................... 24798252 Ruwi

Spicy Village.............................................. Al Khuwair .................................. 24475518 Rusayl ........................................ 24510120 Nizwa ......................................... 25431694 Sohar ......................................... 24843238 Sur ............................................. 25544594 Customer Care ............... 800spicy (77429)

Hot Pot Restaurant...................... 24700691 Near Khimji’s Mart, Darsait

Swagath Veg Restaurant.............. 24707676 Ruwi

It’s Mirchi ................................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel

The Bollywood ............................ 24565653 Qurm, Behind CCC

Kamat Al Khuwair .................................. 24479243 Ruwi ............................................ 24783300

The Indus Restaurant .................. 22022888 Opera Gallaria - Shatti Al Qurum

Happy Village ............................. 24564995 Qurum

Keranadu .................................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel Khana Khazana............................ 24813466 Ruwi Khyber ........................................ 24781901 CBD Koliwada .................................... 99421778 MBD Kumkum...................................... 24714114 Muttrah Lazeez ........................................ 26 883710 Al Nahda Resort & Spa Mumtaz Mahal ............................ 24605907 Qurum Mughlai Zaika ............................. 24568200 Wattayah

Tawa Magic ................................ 24703300 CBD The Great Kabab Factory............ 24478373 Al Khuwair The Taj ........................................ 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

8 Italian Capri Court ................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Come Prima................................ 24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat

Woodlands.................................. 24700192 MBD, Ruwi

Eatalian ....................................... 22060025 Oman Avenues Mall, 3rd floor

GRILL HOUSE 1 AL-QURUM............................ 24563383 2 MADINA SULTAN QABOO ...... 24603660 3 AL-RUMAIS ............................. 26893147 4 AL-KHOUD .............................. 24541502 5 OPP. MUSCAT INT'L AIRPORT 24511337 6 BARKA..................................... 22043415 7 KAKOOT ROUND ABOUT......... 24548834

Mediterranean Grill.................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat O Sole Mio .................................. 24487777 Radisson Blu - Muscat Trattoria ...................................... 24210451 Pane Caldo ................................. 24698697 Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex Pizza Express .............................. 24696169 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al-Qurum Tuscany....................................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

November 2016

SEARCHING

Ananthapuri .............................. 24706226 Opp. Muscat Municipality, Darsait

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

International

Hamburger Nation ...................... 24558077 Muscat City Centre

Al Bandar Lounge ....................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

iFoods ......................................... 24121114 18 November St, near Sultan Centre, Azaiba

Al Aktham ................................... 24489292 Al Khuwair, behind OIB A’Rifaak ...................................... 92558842 Al Khoud, Main Street

SEARCHING

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

AlExandria.................................. 24561611 Qurum, next to Sabco Center Al Khiran Terrace Restaurant ..................... Al Bustan Palace ......................... 24764000 Al Waha Lounge ......................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Assira Pool Bar............................ 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Bait Al Bahar ............................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Jean’s Grill .................................. 24567666 Sultan Center Jungle ......................................... 24561600 Qurum Rose Garden Khaboura Cafe............................ 24592900 Majan Hotel Khalab .......................................992RELAX Al Nahda Resort & Spa La Brassiere ............................... 2471 3707 Muttrah La Mer ........................................ 95038487 Shatti Al Qurum Left Bank ..................................... 24693699 Below Mumtaz Mahal restaurant, Qurum

Beach Pavilion Restaurant and Bar Al Bustan Palace ......................... 24764000

Le Jardin...................................... 24510300 Golden Tulip Seeb

B+F Roadside Diner................... 24698836 Bareeq Al Shatti

Love At First Bite ......................... 24601737 Shatti Al Qurum

Blue Marlin ................................. 24737940 Marina bander Al Rowdha

Musandam Café.......................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

BreadTalk.................................... 24603033 Bareeq Al Shatti

Musandam Restaurant ................ 26730267 Khasab Hotel

Bread and Co.............................. 24698379 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al-Qurum

Nando’s ....................................... 24561818 Opp CCC Muscat City Centre

Buffet Restaurant ......................... 24697967 Bareeq Al Shatti Casper & Gambini’s ................... 22060085 Oman Avenues Mall, 2nd floor Chilli’s Muscat City Center .................... 24558815 Qurum City Center .................... 24470700 Circles ........................................ 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Class Room ................................. 24813141 National Hospitality Institute, Wadi Kabir Coral Reef Cafe .......................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Neptune Bar................................ 24795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort Nouras Al Shatti .......................... 24603555 Ramada Beach Hotel Odyssey ...................................... 24824240 Oman Dive Centre, Bandar Jissa Olivos.......................................... 24487777 Radisson Blu Retro ........................................... 24571339 Shatti AL Qurum RBG Grill .................................... 24507888 Park Inn Muscat

Coffee Shop ................................ 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel

Samba ......................................... 24776666 Al Waha Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Four Seasons ............................... 24707207 Haffa House Hotel

Slider Station .............................. 24698990 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al Qurum

From the tree .............................. 22060095 Oman Avenues Mall, 2nd floor

Stomach ...................................... 24692486 Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex

Golden Spoon Al Khuwair .................................. 24482263 Seeb Souq................................... 24424204

Japengo....................................... 92892868 Qurum

November 2016

Sultanah ...................................... 24776666 Al Husn Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Sundowner’s Beach Bar............... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort TGIF ............................................ 24488899 Al Khuwair, City Seasons Hotel The Beach Restaurant ................. 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Chedi Pool Cabana.............. 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Crepe Cafe .......................... 24558530 Muscat City Centre The Serai Pool Cabana ............... 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Restaurant ............................ 24524400 The Chedi Muscat The Coffee Shop ......................... 24704244 Ruwi Hotel Tinello......................................... 24502570 The Treasurebox Hotel Trader Vic’s................................. 24680000 InterContinental Muscat Tropicana.................................... 24660660 Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat

Long Bar and Xyro ...................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah

Mediterranean

Nirvana ......................24781901/ 97015530 CBD

Bellapais .................................... 24521100 Risail Complex

O'Malleys .................................... 24487777 Radisson Blu

Mediterranean Grill ................. 246803000 InterContinental Muscat

Periwinkle’s Pub ......................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Tapas & Sablah ........................... 24776666 Al Bandar Hotel, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa

Piano Lounge .............................. 26776666 Al Bander Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah

Tomato ........................................ 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Rock Bottom Cafe’ ...................... 24564443 Ramee Guestline Hotel

Pubs & Lounge Al Ghazal .................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat Al Jizzi Lounge ............................ 26841111 Sohar Beach Hotel Al Marrah Pub ............................ 24424404 Al Bahjah Hotel Barrio Fiesta ............................... 24592900 Majan Hotel Churchill’s Pub............................ 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn

Sama Terazza ............................. 24507888 Park Inn Muscat Sports Bar ................................... 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn The Hut ....................................... 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort The Lazy Lizard ........................... 24487777 Radisson Blu The Wahiba ................................. 26795545 Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Club Bar ..................................... 24704244 Ruwi Hotel

Mexican

Club Safari.................................. 24602327 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Pavo Real .................................... 24602603 MQ

Copacabana ............................... 24641234 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Senor Pico................................... 24680000 InterContinental Muscat

Duke’s Bar ................................... 24660660 Crowne Plaza

Mydan, MRM ...............................26871553

Feeney’s Irish Pub....................... 99262821 Al Qurum Resort Habana Cafe ............................... 24602327 Grand Hyatt Muscat John Barry Bar............................. 24641234 Grand Hyatt Layalina Bar ................................ 24487123 Muscat Holiday Inn

Steak & Grill Grill House ................................. 24603660 Just Grilled.................................. 24601290 Oasis By The Sea, Shatti Al Qurum Kobe’s Sizzlers .........24563220 / 24564092 GBM Building, Qurum The Safari Rooftop Grill .............24641234, .................................................. 24641114 Grand Hyatt Muscat

Le Pub......................................... 24702311 Al Falaj Hotel

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Azure, MRM .................................26871553

A list of restaurant and eateries, to match your tastes

November 2016